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By Kristen Odland, Calgary Herald
Now, the Calgary Hitmen sit — and wait. They swept the Edmonton Oil Kings in four games during in their first Western Hockey League playoff series which wrapped up Wednesday night, enjoyed a day's rest on Thursday but will have to wait a week from today to resume their post-season charge.
Their opponent — which could be either Lethbridge, Medicine Hat or Swift Current — will pay a visit to the Pengrowth Saddledome to face the idle Hitmen on April 3 (7 p.m.) and April 5 (2 p.m.) in the Eastern Conference semifinal.
“It’ll give us an opportunity to get our game back to the pace and level that we’re going to need it to be at,” said Hitmen head coach Dave Lowry, of the lengthy break. “I thought we worked hard but I didn’t like the way, leading up, that we had practised.
“We’re going to address that.”
When all was said and done, the Hitmen out-shot Edmonton 181-87 after four contests and trailed only twice during the series, despite facing a hot goaltender in Edmonton’s Torrie Jung. Hitmen Joel Broda led the way with three goals and four assists while netminder Martin Jones posted a 0.966 and let in three goals.
And as tough as it was to believe, Lowry felt the Hitmen — one of the top-ranked Canadian junior teams all year — had a case of post-season jitters.
“Our guys were very nervous, going into the first round,” said Lowry, who gave the team Thursday off to recover. “There was a lot of pressure with starting the (series) at home. There was a lot of nervous energy and I think it affected the way we practised.
“We’ve got one round under our belt now but we have to understand that we have to be, play, and execute at a better pace and tempo.”
Tonight, after they hit the ice for a skate, they’ll be watching the action and taking notes between No. 5 seed Medicine Hat Tigers and No. 4 Swift Current Broncos and over the weekend between No. 2 Saskatoon Blades and No. 7 Lethbridge Hurricanes. Both series are knotted at two games apiece.
“This time of the year, we’re fortunate to be playing in the next round and that we’re in a position that we can wait for our opponent,” added Lowry. “All three teams are equally balanced and will all be very tough opponents.”
While the Hitmen trouble scoring goals this series — aside from a 2-1 OT decision in Game 2 — an item on Calgary’s to-do list will improving their power play which had been No. 1 in the regular season but went a dismal two-for-19 against the Oil Kings.
On Wednesday, the Hitmen were faced with adversity midway through the first period in Game 4 at Rexall Place. Edmonton’s Brent Raedeke put the home team up 1-0 but former Canmore Eagle Kris Foucalt responded for the Hitmen, scoring twice as Kyle Bortis and Brandon Kozun also tallied.
“Maybe (we didn’t have) enough respect for that team,” said Bortis. “Edmonton worked very hard in that game and they were sticking around, doing what it took to potentially win that game.
“It was a wake-up call for our team . . . when we don’t show up and just come and hope it’s going to happen, that’s when we get in trouble.”
Meanwhile Tomas Karpov, promoted to the top line after No. 1 centre Brett Sonne was a scratch with an upper body injury from Game 3, had a pair of assists as the line contributed six points. Sonne is day-to-day.
