nivek_wahs
04-07-2007, 06:47 AM
http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/news/sports/story.html?id=f9d0e850-af02-46a1-9187-5b35032c5bc0
Pats facing a tough task
Greg Harder, Leader-Post
Published: Saturday, April 07, 2007
The Regina Pats are ready to jump head-first into uncharted playoff waters, even if it means swimming with the sharks.
The top-seeded Medicine Hat Tigers -- the WHL's version of a Great White -- will be appearing in the second round for the fifth straight year when they open a best-of-seven series tonight against the visiting Pats.
Regina hasn't ventured this deep into the spring season since 1998.
"We're excited to be playing in April," offered Pats head coach Curtis Hunt, whose team eliminated the Swift Current Broncos in Round 1. "We're excited to play one of the better teams over the last (few) years. They're not just on the rise, they've been there. I think that's exciting for our guys. We'll take what we learned from our first series and just go play."
Based upon regular-season results, the Pats are the biggest longshot since Britney Spears said 'I do' to K-Fed. Nevertheless, Hunt is fond of citing recent examples of precedent, including the storybook playoff runs of the Calgary Flames in 2004 and the Edmonton Oilers in 2006.
From Regina's point of view, there's plenty of evidence to suggest the postseason really is a new season.
"Right now I don't think it matters where we finished," said Hunt, whose team posted 16 fewer wins than Medicine Hat (52 to 36). "The (standings) gave them the right for home ice but in the end it just allowed us all into the same party. Now all bets are off."
THE MATCHUP
- The Pats donned the favourite's hat in their first-round series against Swift Current. Now they're trying the underdog's role on for size. Regina could benefit from the fact that all the pressure is on the Tigers, who own home-ice advantage and are expected to contend for their second WHL title in four years.
- The Pats lost all four meetings with Medicine Hat this season by a combined score of 16-4. If Regina carries any of that baggage into the playoffs, the series could be over before it begins.
- Tigers defenceman Kris Russell might be the best player in the league. If it wasn't for his gold-medal jaunt with Canada at the world juniors, Russell may have potted 40 goals this season. That's 12 more than Regina's top scorer, rookie Jordan Eberle, and just six fewer than league-leader Mark Derlago of Brandon. Not bad for a defenceman.
- Get ready for the mind games. The Pats are working with sports psychologist/leadership coach Ernie Wouters, who incidentally is a previous employee of the Tigers. Medicine Hat now works with Dr. Saul Miller, who made headlines last week for calling Red Deer Rebels boss Brent Sutter a "loudmouth bully."
- It's hard to imagine that Medicine Hat isn't still feeling the effects of a seven-game war against Red Deer. Regina's six-game series against Swift Current didn't take the same physical toll. The Pats are healthy and refreshed after a five-day break, although some of their advantage was negated when Game 1 of the series was moved from Friday to Saturday, giving the Tigers a three-day turnaround instead of just two.
- The Pats and Tigers share a philosophy that 'speed kills.' Both sides are deadly in transition, which can make for entertaining, free-flowing action. However, they also share a commitment to defence and tireless back-checking. At the pace these teams set, conditioning and the ability to roll four lines will be crucial.
- Under head coach Will Desjardins, the Tigers have made a name for themselves by playing with tenacity and intelligence. Other than the Everett Silvertips, no team in the WHL adheres to its systems with greater precision. Simply put, the Tigers make the other team beat them; they don't beat themselves. It's a blueprint the Pats strive to follow. The question is: Can the student surpass the teacher?
- Tigers veteran Matt Keetley is one of the WHL's elite netminders while Regina's Linden Rowat is a top prospect who has shown he's ready to accept the torch. Rowat, 17, outplayed veteran Kyle Moir in the first round, posting a 2.21 GAA, a .923 save percentage and one shutout. Keetley's overall numbers are inferior (2.88 GAA, .896 SP), although he did post three shutouts against Red Deer -- all coming after losses in which he gave up six goals.
- The Pats pride themselves on their depth, but the Tigers' roster is just as deep -- and probably more. Both teams had six players record at least 50 points during the regular season and five players with 20 or more goals. However, the Tigers had three skaters who averaged at least a point per game (Russell, Darren Helm and Derek Dorsett) while the Pats had just one (Garrett Festerling). Medicine Hat also had two 30-goal scorers (Russell and Chris Stevens) while Regina had none.
- Regina's No. 1 line of Festerling, Eberle and Michael MacAngus accounted for roughly half of the team's offence in the first round. That trio can expect tougher sledding in a head-to-head matchup against the Tigers' top unit of Dorsett, Helm and Stevens. Regina's No. 2 line of Kyle Ross, Troy Ofukany and Kaspars Saulietis needs to pick up its game or this could be a short series.
© The Leader-Post (Regina) 2007
Pats facing a tough task
Greg Harder, Leader-Post
Published: Saturday, April 07, 2007
The Regina Pats are ready to jump head-first into uncharted playoff waters, even if it means swimming with the sharks.
The top-seeded Medicine Hat Tigers -- the WHL's version of a Great White -- will be appearing in the second round for the fifth straight year when they open a best-of-seven series tonight against the visiting Pats.
Regina hasn't ventured this deep into the spring season since 1998.
"We're excited to be playing in April," offered Pats head coach Curtis Hunt, whose team eliminated the Swift Current Broncos in Round 1. "We're excited to play one of the better teams over the last (few) years. They're not just on the rise, they've been there. I think that's exciting for our guys. We'll take what we learned from our first series and just go play."
Based upon regular-season results, the Pats are the biggest longshot since Britney Spears said 'I do' to K-Fed. Nevertheless, Hunt is fond of citing recent examples of precedent, including the storybook playoff runs of the Calgary Flames in 2004 and the Edmonton Oilers in 2006.
From Regina's point of view, there's plenty of evidence to suggest the postseason really is a new season.
"Right now I don't think it matters where we finished," said Hunt, whose team posted 16 fewer wins than Medicine Hat (52 to 36). "The (standings) gave them the right for home ice but in the end it just allowed us all into the same party. Now all bets are off."
THE MATCHUP
- The Pats donned the favourite's hat in their first-round series against Swift Current. Now they're trying the underdog's role on for size. Regina could benefit from the fact that all the pressure is on the Tigers, who own home-ice advantage and are expected to contend for their second WHL title in four years.
- The Pats lost all four meetings with Medicine Hat this season by a combined score of 16-4. If Regina carries any of that baggage into the playoffs, the series could be over before it begins.
- Tigers defenceman Kris Russell might be the best player in the league. If it wasn't for his gold-medal jaunt with Canada at the world juniors, Russell may have potted 40 goals this season. That's 12 more than Regina's top scorer, rookie Jordan Eberle, and just six fewer than league-leader Mark Derlago of Brandon. Not bad for a defenceman.
- Get ready for the mind games. The Pats are working with sports psychologist/leadership coach Ernie Wouters, who incidentally is a previous employee of the Tigers. Medicine Hat now works with Dr. Saul Miller, who made headlines last week for calling Red Deer Rebels boss Brent Sutter a "loudmouth bully."
- It's hard to imagine that Medicine Hat isn't still feeling the effects of a seven-game war against Red Deer. Regina's six-game series against Swift Current didn't take the same physical toll. The Pats are healthy and refreshed after a five-day break, although some of their advantage was negated when Game 1 of the series was moved from Friday to Saturday, giving the Tigers a three-day turnaround instead of just two.
- The Pats and Tigers share a philosophy that 'speed kills.' Both sides are deadly in transition, which can make for entertaining, free-flowing action. However, they also share a commitment to defence and tireless back-checking. At the pace these teams set, conditioning and the ability to roll four lines will be crucial.
- Under head coach Will Desjardins, the Tigers have made a name for themselves by playing with tenacity and intelligence. Other than the Everett Silvertips, no team in the WHL adheres to its systems with greater precision. Simply put, the Tigers make the other team beat them; they don't beat themselves. It's a blueprint the Pats strive to follow. The question is: Can the student surpass the teacher?
- Tigers veteran Matt Keetley is one of the WHL's elite netminders while Regina's Linden Rowat is a top prospect who has shown he's ready to accept the torch. Rowat, 17, outplayed veteran Kyle Moir in the first round, posting a 2.21 GAA, a .923 save percentage and one shutout. Keetley's overall numbers are inferior (2.88 GAA, .896 SP), although he did post three shutouts against Red Deer -- all coming after losses in which he gave up six goals.
- The Pats pride themselves on their depth, but the Tigers' roster is just as deep -- and probably more. Both teams had six players record at least 50 points during the regular season and five players with 20 or more goals. However, the Tigers had three skaters who averaged at least a point per game (Russell, Darren Helm and Derek Dorsett) while the Pats had just one (Garrett Festerling). Medicine Hat also had two 30-goal scorers (Russell and Chris Stevens) while Regina had none.
- Regina's No. 1 line of Festerling, Eberle and Michael MacAngus accounted for roughly half of the team's offence in the first round. That trio can expect tougher sledding in a head-to-head matchup against the Tigers' top unit of Dorsett, Helm and Stevens. Regina's No. 2 line of Kyle Ross, Troy Ofukany and Kaspars Saulietis needs to pick up its game or this could be a short series.
© The Leader-Post (Regina) 2007