Put on your rally caps Cougar fans because getting back in this Western Conference final with Vancouver won't be easy.
Despite being down 2 games to none the good news is games three and four are back in your barn with a sellout crowd on both nights at the CN Centre.
I may be stating the obvious here but a loss tomorrow night by the Cougars and it's over.
It's imperative they win tonight if they have any chance of prolonging this series.
Down 0-3 and it's lights out!
While Real Cyr was yanked in game two in favor of Scott Bowles, it would be a huge mistake to go with the overage in game three.
Cyr has been the savior in the playoffs, and a stumble in game three doesn't mean a permanent place on the bench.
Every goaltender is awarded a mulligan, even in the playoffs, and Cyr has just used his up.
I anticipate if the coaches show faith in starting him in game 3, he will rewarded them with a solid performance.
_____________________________
I am by no means a Calgary Flames fan but the sight of all of those red jersey's in the stands at the Saddledome in game 6 of their playoff series last night with the Red Wings is awfully impressive.
Sure I've seen it before but for whatever reason they really caught my attention last night. They seemed to offset the red faces the Flames had on the ice as they desperately held on by a thread in an attempt of sending the series back to Detroit.
As I've stated, the Saddledome is not on my list as one of my favorite rinks to call a W.H.L game but sitting in the stands as a fan in a different story.
I have seen the Flames three times on home ice, twice with the Rockets and once with the Broncos as the WHL teams treated the players to some NHL action.
The one time I was with the Broncos we had a chance to catch Mario Lemiuex at the height of his career.
Lemiuex was a disappointment on the night I saw him.
I will always remember his lack of urgency defensively, and back checking appeared to be painstaking for Mario.
I honestly found him lazy.
Maybe it was just an off night?
Mario was anything but magnificent when I saw him up close. Thank goodness one game does not make a career.
_________________________
Three members of the Kelowna Rockets return from Finland with a bit of an empty feeling after losing in the bronze medal game at the Under 18's on Sunday.
Luke Schenn wore a Canadian jersey while Jeff Truitt was an assistant to Trent Yawney. Rockets Athletic Therapist Jeff Thornburn was also on the team Canada medical staff.
Despite failing to earn a medal, Truitt likely took another step on becoming a potential candidate for a coaching position on the Canadian World Junior team at Christmas while Schenn only saw his stock grow in the eyes of the national team scout staff.
Schenn wouldn't get an invite to this years World Juniors, but he has to be on the radar in 2009.
__________________________
Is WHL hockey really that much better than Junior 'A'?
Brent Howarth was again instrumental in helping the Selkirk Steelers tie their Anavet Cup series at one win apiece after a 2-1 win over the Humboldt Broncos Saturday night.
Howarth, a former Rocket was named the games 1st star.
Brent Howarth has been nothing short of excellent for the Steelers all season and in the playoffs, making you wonder why he didn't have the type of offensive success with the Rockets.
Was it change in attitude?
Is it receiving a greater opportunity as the Steelers go-to-guy after playing a checking role and ultimately second fiddle in a Rockets uniform for the majority of his W.H.L career?
I can't for the life of me think he would have put up even half the totals he did this season in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League if he had stayed with the Rockets as an overage.
Howarth is 3 wins shy of advancing to the Royal Bank Cup which will be played in Prince George. No matter what level of hockey he's playing, Howie is close to earning a championship.
Good for him!
_____________________________
I will admit I didn't like him much when he first came on the scene, but CBC analyst Kelly Hrudey has grown on me.
From time to time I have heard him on a Vancouver sports radio station and Hrudey tends to ride the fence on issues but his insight from a players perspective is very good and he gives you a good sense of what a player is thinking, especially in an overtime game like last night between the Flames and Wings.
Color Analyst Drew Remenda may not be a favorite of mine for TV, but I have gotten to know him over the last couple of years because of his radio talk show in Saskatchewan.
Drew does work for CBC on Hockey Night but he also has the Drew Remenda show on a Saskatoon radio station 5 days a week.
Remenda is a class act and is always willing to chat with even us little people in the W.H.L.
_________________________________
NHL.com had an article featuring new players expected to make an impact with their respective club next season.
When it came to the St Louis Blues, former Rocket D.J King was mentioned as a good bet of becoming a regular next season. This is what it said:
D.J. King -- Yes, he can fight, but Blues coach Andy Murray feels King can contribute more and has given D.J. some things to work on this summer that could help improve his skating and puck skills
King played 27 games with the Blues this season. 'Kinger' got into 8 scraps.
__________________________________
If the Canucks fail to win tonight I will be one of likely just a few hockey fans in this province who won't shed a tear.
With the Canucks and Dallas tied at 3, fans are already asking if the team should have done more at the trade deadline.
Should they have acquired more scoring rather than simply depending on the Sedins and Markus Naslund?
Sure Roberto was an upgrade in goal, but the last time I checked if you can't score you won't win to many hockey games.
When will Canuck fans get it through their heads that Brendan Morrison just doesn't have it? He's looked upon to be an impact guy but he often times does little to impress. Sure he's ok during the regular season but he is anything but special in the playoffs.
Will I watch tonight's game?
Sure!
Will I grimace in pain when they lose?
Not a chance!
____________________________
What former Vancouver Giant was eliminated in Sunday's NHL playoffs?I'll give you a hint...he's a former Kelowna Rocket.
Still can't get it?
Nick Tarnasky!
You have to hand it to Tarnasky for sticking with the Lighting this season.
Tarnasky was anything but a special player when he wore a Rockets jersey in 2002-2003, playing in just 39 games before being shipped to Lethbridge.
No one at the time, including myself would have ever guessed that he'd play a game in the NHL let alone 77 with the Lighting this season.
Not bad for a 9th round pick of Tampa in 2003.
Tarnasky broke into the WHL with the Vancouver Giants in 2001-2002 where he played just 10 games before he was sent to Kelowna.
No comments:
Post a Comment