HUSKY WHL EASTERN CONFERENCE
(1) CALGARY HITMEN vs (5) MEDICINE HAT TIGERS
2009-10 regular-season record: (W-L-OTL-SOL, PTS)
Calgary: 52-17-1-2, 107pts
Medicine Hat: 41-23-3-5, 90pts
2009-10 head-to-head record:
Calgary: 4-1-0-1, 9pts
Medicine Hat: 2-2-0-2, 6pts
2009-10 head-to-head top scorers:
Calgary:
Tyler Fiddler 6gp-6g-4a-10pts
Joel Broda 5gp-3g-3a-6pts
Medicine Hat:
Emerson Etem 6gp-5g-2a-7pts
Taylor Gal 6gp-2g-4a-6pts
The Calgary Hitmen and Medicine Hat Tigers meet in the playoffs for the first time since the 2006-07 season. Darren Helm and the Tigers defeated Ryan White and the Hitmen four games to one in the 2007 WHL Eastern Conference Championship series.
The Hitmen advanced to the second round of the WHL playoffs after eliminating the Moose Jaw Warriors in a tough seven-game series that saw the Hitmen rebound from a 3-1 series deficit. Calgary’s offense may have sputtered early on in their first-round series versus the Warriors, but they found their game towards the end, outscoring the Warriors 18-7 over the final three games to win the series. Brandon Kozun may be the Hitmen’s leading point-getter in the post-season; however, it was the secondary scoring from the likes of Jimmy Bubnick, Cody Sylvester and Del Cowan that enabled the Hitmen to advance. Defensively, the Hitmen improved as the series versus the Warriors went on. Yet, they will have their hands full in trying to contain the Tigers’ speedy, shifty and offensively gifted forwards. Goaltender Martin Jones endured a rough start to the playoffs, but, like his entire team, improved as the series moved along. The 20-year-old has playoff experience on his side, and will need to be sharp and calm in the face of the Tigers’ dynamic offense.
The Tigers are in the second round of the WHL playoffs for the seventh time in the last eight seasons, and advanced to the Conference semi-final having beaten the higher-ranked Kootenay Ice in six games. Like the Hitmen, the Tigers had a rough started the 2010 post-season, losing their opening two games in Cranbrook by a combined score of 10-2. However, they rebounded by winning the next four games versus the Ice by a combined 18-5 score line. Offensively, the Tigers’ balanced attack helped them generate more than enough scoring in the first round, with 13 different players finding the back of the net. Emerson Etem led the way with four goals and seven points while a total of 13 players had at least two points in the series. Defensively, the Tigers improved greatly throughout the series, and surrendered only five goals in the last four games, combined. Mark Isherwood, Jace Coyle and the Tigers’ defense corps will need to be even better to contain a Hitmen attack that scored 31 goals in seven first-round games. Sophomore goalie Tyler Bunz was terrific in the first round, showing poise and confidence beyond his 18 years of age. He will have to carry his strong play into the series versus Calgary if the Tigers want to keep moving on.
Series Schedule(All Start Times Local)
#1 – Medicine Hat @ Calgary; Friday, April 2 (7:00pm)
#2 – Medicine Hat @ Calgary; Sunday, April 4 (5:00pm)
#3 – Calgary @ Medicine Hat; Tuesday, April 6 (7:00pm)
#4 – Calgary @ Medicine Hat; Wednesday, April 7 (7:00pm)
#5 – Medicine Hat @ Calgary; Friday, April 9 (7:00pm)**
#6 – Calgary @ Medicine Hat; Sunday, April 11 (6:00pm**
#7 – Medicine Hat @ Calgary; Tuesday, April 13 (7:00pm)**
**If Necessary
(2) BRANDON WHEAT KINGS vs (3) SASKATOON BLADES
2009-10 regular-season record:
Brandon: 50-18-1-3, 104pts
Saskatoon: 46-19-3-4, 99pts
2009-10 head-to-head record:
Brandon: 5-2-1-0, 11pts
Saskatoon: 3-4-1-0, 7pts
2009-10 head-to-head top scorers:
Brandon:
Brayden Schenn 8gp-3g-11a-14pts
Matt Calvert 8gp-10g-2a-12pts
Saskatoon:
Stefan Elliott 8gp-2g-5a-7pts
Walker Wintoneak 8gp-2g-5a-7pts
The Brandon Wheat Kings and Saskatoon Blades meet up in the post-season for the first time since the 2001-02 season. Ryan Craig and the Wheat Kings defeated Warren Peters and the Blades four games to three in the first round of the 2002 WHL playoffs.
The Wheat Kings advanced to the second round of the WHL playoffs for the second straight season after sweeping the Swift Current Broncos 4-0 in the opening round. The highest scoring team during the regular season, the Wheat Kings continued their offensive dominance in the first round of the playoffs, scoring 18 goals in four games while converting 31.2 per cent of their power play chances (5-for-16). Brayden Schenn and Matt Calvert combined for eight goals and 17 points in four games in the first round, but will be challenged by a stronger and more physical Blades team. More will be needed from the likes of Mark Stone, Shayne Wiebe and Scott Glennie to spread around the scoring. Defensively, the Wheat Kings allowed nine goals in the first round, and their penalty killing surrendered just one goal on 14 Broncos’ power plays in four games. Travis Hamonic appears to be rounding into peak form, which is good news for the Wheat Kings’ defense corps. Goaltender Jacob DeSerres posted a very solid .922 save percentage in the opening round. He’ll need to continue to bring a consistent effort if the Wheat Kings are to win the series.
The Blades are in the second round of the WHL playoffs for the first time since the 2005-06 season after sweeping the Red Deer Rebels 4-0 in the opening round. The Blades outscored the Rebels by a lopsided 14-3 margin in the first round, and shut out the Rebels in the first two games. Offensively, Gaelan Patterson led the way with three opening-round goals while defenseman Stefan Elliott led the team in points with five through four games. The Blades will need consistent scoring from others like Derek Hulak and Travis Toomey if they are to keep up with the high-scoring Wheat Kings. Defensively, limiting the Rebels to three goals in four games in the first round shows the Blades are playing well in their own end. However, the Blades will face a much more potent offense from a Wheat Kings team that scored five or more goals in four of eight head-to-head meetings in the regular season. Steven Stanford stopped 125 of 128 shots he faced through four first-round games. The 19-year-old Calgarian may have had a winning record versus Brandon this season, but he also posted a 3.79 GAA and a .872 save percentage in seven appearances versus the Wheaties.
Series Schedule
#1 – Brandon @ Saskatoon; Friday, April 2 (7:05pm)
#2 – Brandon @ Saskatoon; Saturday, April 3 (7:05pm)
#3 – Saskatoon @ Brandon; Wednesday, April 7 (7:00 pm)
#4 – Saskatoon @ Brandon; Friday, April 9 (7:30pm)
#5 – Saskatoon @ Brandon; Saturday, April 10 (7:30pm)**
#6 – Brandon @ Saskatoon; Monday, April 12 (7:05pm)**
#7 – Saskatoon @ Brandon; Wednesday, April 14 (7:00pm)**
KAL TIRE WHL WESTERN CONFERENCE
(1) TRI-CITY AMERICANS vs (6) KELOWNA ROCKETS
2009-10 regular-season record:
Tri-City: 47-22-1-2, 97pts
Kelowna: 35-31-2-4, 76pts
2009-10 head-to-head record:
Tri-City: 4-0-0-0, 8pts
Kelowna: 0-4-0-0, 0pts
2009-10 head-to-head top scorers:
Tri-City:
Johnny Lazo 4gp-6g-3a-9pts
Brendan Shinnimin 4gp-2g-4a-6pts
Kelowna:
Kyle St. Denis 3gp-2g-0a-0pts
Tyson Barrie 3gp-1g-1a-2pts
The Tri-City Americans and the Kelowna Rockets meet up in the WHL playoffs for a second straight season. Tyler Myers and the Rockets beat Taylor Procyshen and the Americans four games to two in the second round of the 2009 WHL playoffs.
The Americans, the top-seeded Western Conference team, advanced to the second round of the playoffs for a third straight year after defeating the Chilliwack Bruins four games to two in the first round. Offensively, the Ams averaged four goals per game in their first-round series win over the Ams while converting 26.3 percent of their power play chances. The Ams’ top guns have been getting the job done as Brooks Macek, Kruise Reddick and Brendan Shinnimin combined for 13 goals and 23 points in six games. Depth in scoring has also been a strength for the Ams in the playoffs, with 10 different players finding the net in the first round. Although they have gotten plenty of scoring from their forwards, getting some goals from their defense would bolster their offense. Defensively, the Americans allowed 16 goals in six games in the first round. Improving their penalty killing will be important if the Americans want to shut down Kelowna’s second-ranked power play. Goaltender Drew Owsley performed well in the team’s opening-round series, posting a solid .922 save percentage. Owsley had plenty of success against Kelowna during the regular season, posting a 4-0 record, a 1.25 GAA and a stellar .953 save percentage in four games.
The Rockets won their fifth straight playoff series after defeating the Everett Silvertips 2-1 in Everett in Game 7 of their opening-round series. With most of their players finally healthy and in the lineup, the Rockets pulled off the upset over a Silvertips team that finished 26 points ahead of them in the regular-season standings. Offensively, the Rockets can thank Geordie Wudrick and his eight first-round goals as well as Tyson Barrie and his nine opening-round points in helping them defeat the WHL’s best defensive team. Additionally, their power play was very strong in the first round. Yet, they will need to find a way to scored against an Americans team that held them to just five goals in four regular-season encounters. Only three players on their current active roster have goals versus the Ams this season. Defensively, the Rockets allowed four or more goals in five of the seven games versus the Silvertips. Tightening up their penalty killing will be key for the Rockets, who allowed 10 goals on 30 ‘Tips’ power plays in the opening round. Goaltender Mark Guggenberger, who backstopped the team to the 2009 WHL Championship, took over as the post-season starter after Adam Brown played the first few games. Although he endured some struggles, Guggenberger shut the door when it mattered, stopping 40 of 41 shots in Game 7 versus Everett. He’ll hope to carry his strong play in Game 7 over to the second round.
Series Schedule
#1 – Kelowna @ Tri-City; Friday, April 2 (7:05pm)
#2 – Kelowna @ Tri-City; Saturday, April 3 (7:05pm)
#3 – Tri-City @ Kelowna; Tuesday, April 6 (7:00 pm)
#4 – Tri-City @ Kelowna; Wednesday, April 7 (7:00pm)
#5 – Kelowna @ Tri-City; Friday, April 9 (7:05pm)**
#6 – Tri-City @ Kelowna; Sunday, April 11 (5:00pm)**
#7 – Kelowna @ Tri-City; Tuesday, April 13 (7:05pm)**
**If Necessary
(4) PORTLAND WINTERHAWKS vs (5) VANCOUVER GIANTS
2009-10 regular-season record:
Portland: 44-25-2-1, 91pts
Vancouver: 41-25-3-3, 88pts
2009-10 head-to-head record:
Portland: 2-2-0-0, 4pts
Vancouver: 2-2-0-0, 4pts
2009-10 head-to-head top scorers:
Portland:
Luke Walker 4gp-2g-2a-4pts
Chris Francis 4gp-0g-4a-4pts
Vancouver:
Craig Cunningham 4gp-5g-3a-8pts
Brendan Gallagher 4gp-3g-5a-8pts
The Portland Winterhawks and the Vancouver Giants meet up in the post-season for the first time since the 2005-06 season. Gilbert Brule and the Giants defeated Brandon Dubinsky and the Winterhawks four games to one in the second round of the 2006 WHL playoffs.
The Giants are in the second round of the playoffs for a fifth consecutive season, having swept the Kamloops Blazers 4-0 in the opening round. Although they swept the Blazers, all but one of the four games was decided by a single goal while two of the contests ended in overtime. Offensively, the Giants were led by their top guns Craig Cunningham and Brendan Gallagher, who combined for nine goals and 20 points in four games. Yet, four others also averaged a point per game or better, indicating the team’s depth in scoring. The Giants also showed great resiliency, having rallied from deficits on several occasions throughout the series. Defensively, the Giants allowed 14 goals in four games. They will need to tighten up against a Hawks team that boasts a very balanced attack. Goaltender Mark Segal has endured some shaky moments through his first foray into the WHL playoffs, but has managed to get the job done when it comes to putting wins on the board. Segal only won once in three tries versus Portland during the regular season, but owned a solid .920 save percentage over the course of those meetings.
The Winterhawks, making their first post-season appearance since 2006, advanced to the second round of the playoffs with a dramatic overtime victory over the Chiefs in Spokane in Game 7 of their first-round series. Now, they’ll face the Giants, who knocked the Hawks out in the second round of the 2006 WHL playoffs in their last post-season appearance. Offensively, the Hawks have gotten scoring from a number of sources in the playoffs. Rookies Ryan Johansen and Nino Niederreiter led the team with nine and eight points, respectively, in the first round. However, the Hawks’ depth in scoring saw 12 different players find the net in seven games versus Spokane. Defensively, the Hawks surrendered an average of 3.28 goals per game in the first round, and ranked eighth among playoff teams on the penalty kill. Portland’s defense corps will need to be vigilant versus a Giants team that potted an average of five goals per game in the opening round versus Kamloops. Stopping the duo of Craig Cunningham and Brendan Gallagher will be a key if the Hawks are to win the series. Goaltender Mac Carruth performed well in his first WHL playoff action in the opening round. He’ll be tested by a deeper Giants offense.
Series Schedule
#1 – Vancouver @ Portland; Saturday, April 3 (7:00pm) MC
#2 – Vancouver @ Portland; Sunday, April 4 (5:00pm) MC
#3 – Portland @ Vancouver; Wednesday, April 7 (7:00 pm)
#4 – Portland @ Vancouver; Friday, April 9 (7:30pm)
#5 – Portland @ Vancouver; Saturday, April 10 (7:00pm)**
#6 – Vancouver @ Portland; Tuesday, April 13 (7:00pm)** MC
#7 – Vancouver @ Portland; Wednesday, April 14 (7:00pm)** MC
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