Big Ern
02-25-2009, 12:16 AM
The Regina Pats have had little luck when facing the Swift Current Broncos this season, now with a 1-5 record versus their biggest East Division rivals. Tuesday night was no different at Swift Current's Credit Union i-Plex. The Pats did not have a stellar outing and ran into penalty trouble.....something that aided in their 5-2 setback at the hands of the Horsemen.
-how about Geordie Wudrick? The 18-year-old LA draft pick scored his 30th goal of the year to make the score 2-1 Broncos late in the second period...a game-changing goal, and has now scored in seven straight games for the Broncos. Geordie's play got red hot at the abseloute right time, and he is an impact player for this hockey club.
-the Broncos were able to fight through the adversity of great chances in the first period and no results, and finally went on to score their first goal at 14:11 of the second period courtesy Spencer McAvoy on the powerplay. Despite doing a great job of keeping Regina at bay up to that point, they hadn't managed to dent the twine behind Pats G Linden Rowatt.
-of course that's not counting the gap created by the absence of two in their top-six forward line-up in Matt Tassone and Michael Stickland. Both injured, their net-front presence and tenacity is something the Broncos are missing at the moment for sure. You can also add Joel Rogers to that injury list.
-Linden Rowatt definitely brought his best game tonight. If it hadn't been for him rising to the challenge in a opportunistic first period for the home team, the Pats wouldn't likely have had the 1-0 lead after one. Rowatt went on to stop the Broncos 26 more times through the last two periods and did all he could to keep his team in it. Unfortunately for Linden, the team in front of him wasn't up to the task of giving him enough help.
-Regina D Colten Teubert is fun to watch. He accumulated six minutes in penalties and had a rather forgettable night. The Broncos always seem to bring out the worst in the 18-year-old Regina rearguard.
-the Pats pulled their goalie with over two minutes left in hopes of scoring a goal 6 on 5 to make it a one-goal game. That, one would think is a sign of desperation in Regina's late push for a playoff spot.
-Cody Eakin had a strong game. He worked extremely hard and fully earned third star honours.
-Jordan Evans stepped right up and played some pretty important minutes.
-Jordan Eberle and his line gave the Broncos some fits in their own zone. G Travis Yonkman had to stand tall a few times to repel the onslaught of the Eberle line, also including the Pats' rookie sensation Jordan Weal. Eberle was handed a penalty shot late in the third and a chance to make the 4-2 game a one-shot affair. But Yonkman was there to stop him.
-the Broncos' powerplay went a deadly 3 for 7 tonight. Keegan Dansereau's powerplay goal had to be the highlight man advantage goal of the night. Dansereau fell down in an effort to get that lightning-quick shot away from the left side of the net. The other two powerplay goals were not pretty, but just the same....they did turn the light on, and that 3 for 7 stat was a big reason why the Broncos came out victorious.
-the Pats took a few lazy penalties and two delay of game penalties to trouble their chances of winning the game....namely in the third period.
-Dillon Wagner was rewarded with a goal for his efforts. The Bronco rookie went in all alone on Rowatt as Linesman Darren Holeha interfered with Regina's returning defenseman Matt Delahey. It was a bad break for the visitors...but Delahey decided to mouth off to the officials after the fact and picked up an extra ten minutes in penalties.
.....
The Broncos now prepare for an Edmonton Oil Kings team who has really given them trouble since their introduction to the WHL last season. With an 0-2 record versus Edmonton this year, the Broncos will have to shore up and turn that trend around. AND, they'll have to dig deep again with the likely possibility of no players returning from the injured list. The Oil Kings are sure to be even more desperate to hang on to that final playoff spot than Regina was to regain that elusive 8th position tonight.
LET'S GO SWIFTY!!!
EXTRAS:
-smallish crowd tonight at 2269. Part of it can be blamed on the snowy weather, while the other half could be blamed on the sold-out Wayne Newton show at Living Sky Casino's grand opening. I found it rather intriguing that $100 tickets for such a has-been, never-was like Wayne Newton were in such high demand. Just my opinion, of course.
-the Regina Pats play more between whistles sometimes than they do when the puck is in play. Only it's NOT good stuff. Enough of the extra little cheap shots already. I don't know how some of it stays hidden from the officials.
-the "Broncos Fight Breast Cancer" campaign appeared to be a big success. I got Joel Rogers' signed pink stick for a couple hundred bucks. It is a great cause to support.
-expect a likely break from game recaps on my part this coming weekend as the Broncos host Edmonton and Lethbridge. I may decide to stay off whlfans for two or three days for a little time off. :)
Have a great week.
-how about Geordie Wudrick? The 18-year-old LA draft pick scored his 30th goal of the year to make the score 2-1 Broncos late in the second period...a game-changing goal, and has now scored in seven straight games for the Broncos. Geordie's play got red hot at the abseloute right time, and he is an impact player for this hockey club.
-the Broncos were able to fight through the adversity of great chances in the first period and no results, and finally went on to score their first goal at 14:11 of the second period courtesy Spencer McAvoy on the powerplay. Despite doing a great job of keeping Regina at bay up to that point, they hadn't managed to dent the twine behind Pats G Linden Rowatt.
-of course that's not counting the gap created by the absence of two in their top-six forward line-up in Matt Tassone and Michael Stickland. Both injured, their net-front presence and tenacity is something the Broncos are missing at the moment for sure. You can also add Joel Rogers to that injury list.
-Linden Rowatt definitely brought his best game tonight. If it hadn't been for him rising to the challenge in a opportunistic first period for the home team, the Pats wouldn't likely have had the 1-0 lead after one. Rowatt went on to stop the Broncos 26 more times through the last two periods and did all he could to keep his team in it. Unfortunately for Linden, the team in front of him wasn't up to the task of giving him enough help.
-Regina D Colten Teubert is fun to watch. He accumulated six minutes in penalties and had a rather forgettable night. The Broncos always seem to bring out the worst in the 18-year-old Regina rearguard.
-the Pats pulled their goalie with over two minutes left in hopes of scoring a goal 6 on 5 to make it a one-goal game. That, one would think is a sign of desperation in Regina's late push for a playoff spot.
-Cody Eakin had a strong game. He worked extremely hard and fully earned third star honours.
-Jordan Evans stepped right up and played some pretty important minutes.
-Jordan Eberle and his line gave the Broncos some fits in their own zone. G Travis Yonkman had to stand tall a few times to repel the onslaught of the Eberle line, also including the Pats' rookie sensation Jordan Weal. Eberle was handed a penalty shot late in the third and a chance to make the 4-2 game a one-shot affair. But Yonkman was there to stop him.
-the Broncos' powerplay went a deadly 3 for 7 tonight. Keegan Dansereau's powerplay goal had to be the highlight man advantage goal of the night. Dansereau fell down in an effort to get that lightning-quick shot away from the left side of the net. The other two powerplay goals were not pretty, but just the same....they did turn the light on, and that 3 for 7 stat was a big reason why the Broncos came out victorious.
-the Pats took a few lazy penalties and two delay of game penalties to trouble their chances of winning the game....namely in the third period.
-Dillon Wagner was rewarded with a goal for his efforts. The Bronco rookie went in all alone on Rowatt as Linesman Darren Holeha interfered with Regina's returning defenseman Matt Delahey. It was a bad break for the visitors...but Delahey decided to mouth off to the officials after the fact and picked up an extra ten minutes in penalties.
.....
The Broncos now prepare for an Edmonton Oil Kings team who has really given them trouble since their introduction to the WHL last season. With an 0-2 record versus Edmonton this year, the Broncos will have to shore up and turn that trend around. AND, they'll have to dig deep again with the likely possibility of no players returning from the injured list. The Oil Kings are sure to be even more desperate to hang on to that final playoff spot than Regina was to regain that elusive 8th position tonight.
LET'S GO SWIFTY!!!
EXTRAS:
-smallish crowd tonight at 2269. Part of it can be blamed on the snowy weather, while the other half could be blamed on the sold-out Wayne Newton show at Living Sky Casino's grand opening. I found it rather intriguing that $100 tickets for such a has-been, never-was like Wayne Newton were in such high demand. Just my opinion, of course.
-the Regina Pats play more between whistles sometimes than they do when the puck is in play. Only it's NOT good stuff. Enough of the extra little cheap shots already. I don't know how some of it stays hidden from the officials.
-the "Broncos Fight Breast Cancer" campaign appeared to be a big success. I got Joel Rogers' signed pink stick for a couple hundred bucks. It is a great cause to support.
-expect a likely break from game recaps on my part this coming weekend as the Broncos host Edmonton and Lethbridge. I may decide to stay off whlfans for two or three days for a little time off. :)
Have a great week.