nivek_wahs
04-09-2007, 05:28 AM
www.rodpedersen.com
Monday, April 09, 2007
Game 2 Tonight!
MEDICINE HAT -- After having Easter Sunday off, the Regina Pats and Medicine Hat Tigers are ready to resume their WHL Eastern Conference Semifinal with Game 2 tonight here at the Arena. The Tigers have a 1-0 series lead after Saturday's 4-1 victory.
"It was an interesting game," reasoned Pats coach Curtis Hunt, "Our penalty kill was outstanding early and we scored the goal to get the early lead. But you know these are these moments where you think your team's turned the corner and learned something but for some reason we got off the game plan and got over-handling pucks and turning over pucks and that's a team that's so quick on transition that they spent the majority of the next two periods in our zone. Some solid lessons, but how many times have I said that? It gets so bloody redundant but the bottom line is we need 10% more from a lotta guys in that room. You've gotta win four games to win a series and for tonight we have to win our first which is tonight and it's going to take some mental focus. We met Sunday, had a quick practice which was energized and we're up to the task which is winning here."
Pats forward Garret Festerling had this assesment...
"I think we were too intense. We let our emotions get the the best of us and we didn't play a full 60. We got away from the things that make us play well and they took advantage of them. If people think it's going to be a short series, then that's too bad for them. I disagree with thim. We know what the pace is now and what it's going to take as a group to compete with the Tigers and I think we'll be fine. We have to doing to what makes us us, and we'll be fine."
A win tonight is clearly key for the Pats, who would dearly love to come home for Games 3 and 4 tied up 1-1 in the series. Not only to give them a better chance in the Best-of-7, but also generate some excitement around Regina and sell some tickets.
I'm still not feeling a playoff vibe. Comments on this blog have been more anti-Pat from fans of other teams, which is curious. There haven't been too many pro-Pats comments but I'm sure the support remains strong.
As for the game-outside-the-game, it's been pretty quiet. Neither Tiger coach Willie Desjardins nor Hunt are going to say anything worthy of tacking up on the dressing room wall. I've been warned against stoking the fire of the Tiger fans, but to be honest there's not much to say. Other than the dust-up in the lounge Saturday night (see post below), things have been tame. I'm sure he didn't even remember it Sunday morning.
Sunday was a leisurely day with a continental breakfast here at the hotel followed by the brisk practice at 1:00. Afterwards, most of the team went to a movie while the rest of us retreated to our rooms to watch the thrilling end to the Islanders-Devils game which New York won 3-2 in a shootout to knocked the Leafs out of the playoffs. I commented to my roomie Brent Parker that I'm not even a Leafs' fan but my stomach was in knots. I was pulling for Toronto because having the Leafs in the postseason makes things a whole lot more fun on the networks and on CBC's Hockey Night in Canada.
Playoffs start on Wednesday, so you'd better get your playoff drafts done in the next couple of days. The Press Box Sports Bar is running their first ever playoff draft with an entry fee of just 20 bucks. Ask for you server for details. Don't forget they'll be showing Game 2 tonight at the Press Box. We'll have the broadcast at 7:00 with a shortened pregame show. Hadesbeck and Lynch will have Sportsline at 6:05 and will be joined by FieldTurf President and CEO John Gilman. The Riders announced last week FieldTurf has won the bid to replace the surface at Mosaic Stadium for 2007. Gilman, a former Montreal quarterback, should have some interesting comments. FieldTurf is in 22 of 32 NFL stadiums and the majority of the CFL.
Talk to you tonight!
Monday, April 09, 2007
Game 2 Tonight!
MEDICINE HAT -- After having Easter Sunday off, the Regina Pats and Medicine Hat Tigers are ready to resume their WHL Eastern Conference Semifinal with Game 2 tonight here at the Arena. The Tigers have a 1-0 series lead after Saturday's 4-1 victory.
"It was an interesting game," reasoned Pats coach Curtis Hunt, "Our penalty kill was outstanding early and we scored the goal to get the early lead. But you know these are these moments where you think your team's turned the corner and learned something but for some reason we got off the game plan and got over-handling pucks and turning over pucks and that's a team that's so quick on transition that they spent the majority of the next two periods in our zone. Some solid lessons, but how many times have I said that? It gets so bloody redundant but the bottom line is we need 10% more from a lotta guys in that room. You've gotta win four games to win a series and for tonight we have to win our first which is tonight and it's going to take some mental focus. We met Sunday, had a quick practice which was energized and we're up to the task which is winning here."
Pats forward Garret Festerling had this assesment...
"I think we were too intense. We let our emotions get the the best of us and we didn't play a full 60. We got away from the things that make us play well and they took advantage of them. If people think it's going to be a short series, then that's too bad for them. I disagree with thim. We know what the pace is now and what it's going to take as a group to compete with the Tigers and I think we'll be fine. We have to doing to what makes us us, and we'll be fine."
A win tonight is clearly key for the Pats, who would dearly love to come home for Games 3 and 4 tied up 1-1 in the series. Not only to give them a better chance in the Best-of-7, but also generate some excitement around Regina and sell some tickets.
I'm still not feeling a playoff vibe. Comments on this blog have been more anti-Pat from fans of other teams, which is curious. There haven't been too many pro-Pats comments but I'm sure the support remains strong.
As for the game-outside-the-game, it's been pretty quiet. Neither Tiger coach Willie Desjardins nor Hunt are going to say anything worthy of tacking up on the dressing room wall. I've been warned against stoking the fire of the Tiger fans, but to be honest there's not much to say. Other than the dust-up in the lounge Saturday night (see post below), things have been tame. I'm sure he didn't even remember it Sunday morning.
Sunday was a leisurely day with a continental breakfast here at the hotel followed by the brisk practice at 1:00. Afterwards, most of the team went to a movie while the rest of us retreated to our rooms to watch the thrilling end to the Islanders-Devils game which New York won 3-2 in a shootout to knocked the Leafs out of the playoffs. I commented to my roomie Brent Parker that I'm not even a Leafs' fan but my stomach was in knots. I was pulling for Toronto because having the Leafs in the postseason makes things a whole lot more fun on the networks and on CBC's Hockey Night in Canada.
Playoffs start on Wednesday, so you'd better get your playoff drafts done in the next couple of days. The Press Box Sports Bar is running their first ever playoff draft with an entry fee of just 20 bucks. Ask for you server for details. Don't forget they'll be showing Game 2 tonight at the Press Box. We'll have the broadcast at 7:00 with a shortened pregame show. Hadesbeck and Lynch will have Sportsline at 6:05 and will be joined by FieldTurf President and CEO John Gilman. The Riders announced last week FieldTurf has won the bid to replace the surface at Mosaic Stadium for 2007. Gilman, a former Montreal quarterback, should have some interesting comments. FieldTurf is in 22 of 32 NFL stadiums and the majority of the CFL.
Talk to you tonight!