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Thread: Trip to the top through Central

  1. #1
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    Default Trip to the top through Central

    http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpo...0-9b2bf0d40ffe

    Trip to the top through Central

    Greg Harder, Leader-Post
    Published: Friday, February 15, 2008
    The Regina Pats don't need a road map to figure out there are no shortcuts to their first East Division crown in 10 years.

    The only sure path is a direct route, one that will require successfully navigating a six-game, nine-day trip that begins with stops in three Central Division strongholds: Kootenay, Lethbridge and Calgary.

    "It's going to be tough because of the teams we're playing," offered Pats sniper Jordan Eberle, whose club opens the trip tonight against the Kootenay Ice. "If you look at our division it's so close right now that if you lose one game you could drop three spots just like that. Every game right now until the end of the season is going to be really important."

    Despite a few close calls, the Pats are still clinging to top spot in the East Division with 14 regular-season games left. Regina has a four-point edge on the Swift Current Broncos (13 games remaining) and a five-point lead on the Moose Jaw Warriors (15 games left).

    The winner of the division will automatically be seeded no lower than second in the Eastern Conference, thus guaranteeing home-ice advantage through the first two rounds of the playoffs.

    The Pats are determined to claim the division crown -- their first since 1997-98 -- but the calibre of their pursuers suggests they'll have to earn it.

    "The challenge is to be consistent," said Pats head coach Curtis Hunt. "The stakes get a little higher this time of year. We're going into some difficult buildings. There are some challenges but I liked our week of practice. Just talking to the guys individually and in small groups, I like our focus and our recognition of where we are and maybe more importantly who we are. We're trying to stress that it takes everybody and it takes everybody every night to have success."

    The Pats are slated to have all hands on deck for their trip, with the exception of tough guy Josh Elder, who received a two-game suspension for his post-game fight with Frazer McLaren of the Moose Jaw Warriors on Saturday night.

    Elder aside, it's the first time in almost three months that Regina has boasted a full healthy roster.

    "That's exciting," said Hunt. "It helps with the overall energy and excitement when the guys come to the rink. I think we know we're a good club but now we're a healthy club. That's important."

    The Pats' ability to win on the road was once an Achilles heel, but that appeared to change after a mid-January trip when they beat each of the top four teams in the Central Division: The Ice, Hurricanes, Hitmen and Medicine Hat Tigers. Regina now owns a respectable 15-10-2-1 record away from the Brandt Centre.

    "It should give the guys confidence to know we've been there and we can do it again," noted Pats right-winger Brett Leffler. "We have to play hard, stick to our game and do nothing special because we are on the road and we're playing against (top) teams. We have to do what we do (best) -- get pucks in, chip pucks, be physical and play our game."

    The Pats also know there's a fine line between winning and losing in those venues. All four victories on their last trip were by one goal, including one via shootout and another in overtime.

    "That's the way it has been and that's how we've had our success with those grind-it-out type of games," said Hunt. "The margin for error is small. It's a chip here or there or a finished check or a battle to get to a loose puck. Those are the little things we've been doing in those games to make us successful."

    The Pats conclude their trip against the three worst teams in the conference: The Red Deer Rebels, Prince Albert Raiders and Saskatoon Blades. Those teams have combined for eight wins against Regina this season.

    The Pats' first game back at the Brandt Centre -- site of the Scotties Tournament of Hearts -- is Feb. 27 against the Kamloops Blazers.

    Six of the Pats' final eight regular-season games are on home ice.




    © The Leader-Post (Regina) 2008

  2. #2
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    I said from the beginning of the year its between Regina and Brandon, 3 points behind you now. Would have been 1, with the lackluster performance last night.

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  3. #3

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    Quote Originally Posted by dagley
    I said from the beginning of the year its between Regina and Brandon, 3 points behind you now. Would have been 1, with the lackluster performance last night.
    Woulda, could, shoulda. The wheaties got their asses kicked last night regardless. Perhaps it they showed up, the score would have been less one-sided, but maybe they still wouldnt have won.

    The pats lost a total of 7 games to teams red deer, and saskatoon, but that is also the same case. We should've won, we could've won, but we didnt.

    I think Brandon might be in an uphill battle with all the injuries they got now. Should be interesting to see where they end up.

  4. #4

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    Woulda, coulda, shoulda is right. It'll be interesting to see how long these injuries effect Dittmer, Boyle, McCue. Going to be a very interesting last 15 game or so in the East!!!!
    Never argue with idiots, they just drag you down to their level then beat you with experience.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Some_Arrogant_Jerk
    Woulda, could, shoulda. The wheaties got their asses kicked last night regardless. Perhaps it they showed up, the score would have been less one-sided, but maybe they still wouldnt have won.

    The pats lost a total of 7 games to teams red deer, and saskatoon, but that is also the same case. We should've won, we could've won, but we didnt.

    I think Brandon might be in an uphill battle with all the injuries they got now. Should be interesting to see where they end up.
    We dont have any injuries except Yeo who should be back Wednesday against Moose Jaw. And Dittmer who is day-to-day

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  6. #6
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    Brandon still doesnt have the goaltending to make a big splash anyways... the goalie that kinda scares me the most for the playoffs in the eastern conference is Perricone and Yonkman... Yonkman played some great games during the Broncos resent winning streak, and well Perricone he does have the most playoff experience of any goalie in the eastern conference (if not the WHL) he took the Warriors to the league final beat a Calgary Hitmen team that the Warriors didnt really have any business beating.

    Rowat could get hot as well, he is kinda streaky at times though.

    But to be quite honest i think the Broncos are going to finish 2nd behind the Pats in the division, followed by MJ then Brandon. The main reason i feel this way is because of Brandon's goaltending.

    Congrats to the Pats tonight for clinching that playoff spot with a win over Kootney. A 3-1 win with our back up between the pipes, Eberle's 4 game goal scoring streak came to a end still sits 2nd in league with 35goals whats scares me is this kid is only 17 and should be in the league until he is 19yrs old.

    Another big match up tomorrow night in Lethbridge, hopfully another 2pts in store for us but see how the games goes

    GO PATS GO

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    http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpo...e-7483c2e3a552

    Pats Ice another victory

    The Leader-Post
    Published: Saturday, February 16, 2008
    The Regina Pats opened their six-game road trip on Friday night with a 3-1 win over the Kootenay Ice.

    Rudolf Cerveny scored the game-winner 4:04 into the third period and added an insurance marker with two seconds left. The Pats also got 26 saves from rookie Jeff Bosch.

    With the win, the Pats improved to 36-18-3-2 and maintained their hold on first place in the East Division. Regina is four points ahead of the Swift Current Broncos, five up on the Brandon Wheat Kings and six ahead of the Moose Jaw Warriors.

    Swift Current beat Moose Jaw 4-3 on Friday thanks to an overtime goal by Bretton Stamler. It was the Warriors' fourth straight loss.

    Regina has won three in a row, a streak which began last weekend with a home-and-home sweep of Moose Jaw.

    On Friday in Cranbrook, Kootenay's Dustin Sylvester opened the scoring at 9:12 of the first period, but Brett Leffler responded for the visitors with just 17 seconds left in the frame.

    Bosch did the rest in a surprise start. Ice veteran Kris Lazaruk took the loss with 26 saves.

    Regina went 1-for-8 on the power play while Kootenay was 1-for-6.

    The Pats are slated to visit the Lethbridge Hurricanes tonight, followed by two days off before playing back-to-back games against the Calgary Hitmen (Tuesday) and Red Deer Rebels (Wednesday). The Pats will return home briefly, then conclude the trip with games against the Prince Albert Raiders (Friday) and Saskatoon Blades (Saturday).

    EXTRAS: Pats RW Jordan Eberle has been named the 'Fan's choice' WHL player-of-the-week after recording three goals and two assists in three games ... Pats LW Josh Elder began serving a two-game suspension on Friday for last weekend's post-game fight with Frazer McLaren of the Warriors ... Regina's other scratches were rookie D-men Alex Pym and Dallas Jackson.




    © The Leader-Post (Regina) 2008

  8. #8

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    Quote Originally Posted by dagley
    We dont have any injuries except Yeo who should be back Wednesday against Moose Jaw. And Dittmer who is day-to-day
    And Boyle, who we really miss.....
    Never argue with idiots, they just drag you down to their level then beat you with experience.

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    Quote Originally Posted by sbtatter
    And Boyle, who we really miss.....
    ...Boyle played Wed and Thurs.

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  10. #10

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    Quote Originally Posted by dagley
    ...Boyle played Wed and Thurs.
    He played a couple shifts Thursday before leaving injured on a late hit during the pk
    Never argue with idiots, they just drag you down to their level then beat you with experience.

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