The Regina Pats host the Swift Current Broncos tonight in game five of their WHL Eastern Conference quarterfinal series. The teams have split the opening four games, with the last two being decided in overtime - including a 5-4 Broncos win on Wednesday night in Swift Current.
The series has played out largely as expected; a battle between Regina's size and physicality and Swift Current's speed and scoring punch. The wildcard has been the play of Broncos netminder Travis Yonkman. Realistically, the series would be over already if not for Yonkman's heroics. That's not to say Pats netminder Linden Rowat has played badly; Yonkman has just been better.
Pats General Manager Brent Parker has to be feeling vindicated right now. Parker faced some heat for the trades that brought six new faces to the lineup in December/January. But, forwards J.D. Watt and Scott Doucet, and defenceman Victor Bartley have been among Regina's top players in this series - exactly why Parker brought them here. And centre Tim Kraus - save for a bit of a disappearing act in game two - has been solid as well.
I expect the Pats to come out hitting tonight, in front of what hopefully will be a full - and noisy - house. The home team will also receive a lift from the return of assistant captain Brett Leffler, who served a three-game suspension for his hit on Broncos defenceman Michael Wilson on the opening shift in game one.
5 comments:
Pete - Wow..can you tell me what the f--k happened out there. I have never seen a team more unprepared to play than that.
Again Rowat didn't make one big save all night and gave up his one per game softy. Pyett was horrible in his own end. He scored a goal on us, he got beat numerous times and was on the ice everytime a goal was scored. He was freakin brutal. Rowat can join that club, 5 goals on some 25 shots or so.
The fans did what they could but Hunt did not have these guys ready to go. That's his job and he didn't get it done. I'm not impressed. The Pats season appears to be over after tomorrow night.
Old Fan
No heart, and sub-par goaltending. That'll do it every time.
I hear you man! I hate to rag on the kid Rowat but an .886 save% in this series is deplorable. The captain Pyett has been nothing short of awful this series. What should have been our strengths is simply put, not happening. I can see no outcome tonight other than a loss, like you say the heart and goaltending just isn't there. I don't know about you but if they go down (they will) there has to be an in depth autopsy. That has to include EVERYONE in this organization from the top down. After 13 years of playoff futility, there has to be some profound changes. The status quo is no longer good enough.
Old Fan
It's really not that hard to assess when you come right down to it. Was there enough talent on the team? If the answer is no, then management was deficient. If the answer is yes, then the problem is coaching.
As for there not being enough heart/leadership - the players need to look within themselves for the answer to that one.
Having said that, I still think the Pats can come back to take this series. I also believe the Maple Leafs have a shot at the Stanley Cup when the NHL season starts each year. :)
I know what you are saying but the way I see it, there are a combination of errors.
You remeber what the Tigers did to us last year with speed. Our management did not appreciably improve our speed. Watt, Doucet, and Bartley are better skaters than some we had. DePape and Bender have only been of marginal help this playoffs. Management didn't bring 2 or 3 burners which is what is again being exposed as, one of our weaknesses. It is well documented that Hunt has had almost no post season success. Notwithstanding his gate opening gig witht the national juniors, I don't see any significant regular season success or playoff performance. It is even more disappointing considering that this team was SUPPOSED to have more talent and veteran playoff experience. This team is poised now to go back to at least a mini-rebuilding mode. I don't like the outlook from my vantage point.
Old Fan
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