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Let the Playoffs Begin!!

Posted by Les Lazaruk on Friday, March 20, 2009 at 02:39:00 PM.

       Juha Metsola was in full gear, taking shots this morning, as the Lethbridge Hurricanes went through an optional practice at Credit Union Centre ahead of tonight's opening game of their best-of-seven Eastern Conference quarter-final series with the Saskatoon Blades. While G-M Roy Stasiuk said yesterday that the 19-year-old Finn likely wouldn't play tonight, methinks this has "Game-Time Decision" written all over it.
       Just one question, if Metsola does, indeed, have a concussion...does he not have to sit out at least one full week in accordance with W-H-L rules? If so, he'd be out for tonight and tomorrow's second game, but only the 'Canes can answer the concussion question with regards to Metsola. Now that it's playoffs, that's highly unlikely to happen. Plus, only the league can clarify that rules from the regular season carry on into the playoffs!
       This will be the fourth post-season match-up between the Blades and 'Canes begins at Credit Union Centre. Saskatoon has won two of the previous three playoff sets...11 wins to five overall.
***
       Courtesy of the WHL media site…here’s all the numbers you could ever hope to take in with regards to the match-up…
Saskatoon Blades vs Lethbridge Hurricanes: Head To Head Stats
Summary
 
 
 
Description
Result
 
Head to Head Record 2008-09 Regular Season
Saskatoon 3-1-0-0
Lethbridge 1-2-1-0
Head to Head Record 2009 WHL Tie-break
Saskatoon 0-0-0-0
Lethbridge 0-0-0-0
Last 5 Years record between teams
Saskatoon 10-13-1-0
Lethbridge 14-9-1-0
Saskatoon vs. Lethbridge Last 5 Years record at Saskatoon
Saskatoon 5-7-1-0
Lethbridge 8-5-0-0
Saskatoon vs. Lethbridge Last 5 Years record at Lethbridge
Saskatoon 5-6-0-0
Lethbridge 6-4-1-0
Previous Meetings This Season
Lethbridge 4 @ Saskatoon 3 (Mar 7 2009) Final
Saskatoon 3 @ Lethbridge 2 (Jan 17 2009) Final OT
Lethbridge 0 @ Saskatoon 3 (Jan 1 2009) Final
Saskatoon 3 @ Lethbridge 2 (Oct 26 2008) Final
 



How the 2 teams match up
 
 
 
 
Lethbridge
Saskatoon
Team Record
35-32-3-2 75 points
49-18-3-2 103 points
Division Ranking
4th Central
1st East
Conference Ranking
7th Eastern
2nd Eastern
League Ranking
12th
3rd
Past 10 Games
5-5-0-0
6-3-0-1
Streak
0-2-0-0
1-0-0-1
Last Game
6-2 Loss vs. Calgary (Mar 15 2009) Final
5-4 Win vs. Prince Albert (Mar 14 2009) Final
Home Record
20-13-3-0
21-12-2-1
Away Record
15-19-0-2
28-6-1-1
GF
227 
283 
GA
228 
195 
PP%
(69/325) 21.2
(73/354) 20.6
PP (Home)%
(40/167) 24.0
(36/183) 19.7
PP (Away)%
(29/158) 18.4
(37/171) 21.6
PK%
(76/341) 77.7
(63/382) 83.5
PK (Home)%
(33/157) 79.0
(29/183) 84.2
PK (Away)%
(43/184) 76.6
(34/199) 82.9
Leading Rookie
Fyten (12-13-25)
Gallimore (26-27-53)
Most PIM
Beach - 165
Zahn - 160
Team PIM/GM
18.1/game
18.2/game
Leading Scorers
Sceviour (29-51-80)
Hulak (30-46-76)
 
Beach (24-39-63)
Kytnar (27-37-64)
 
King (25-35-60)
Wintoneak (31-28-59)
 
Boychuk (28-29-57)
Chorneyko (21-37-58)
 
Ashton (30-20-50)
Patterson (22-35-57)
Last 5 Games
6-2 Loss vs. Calgary (Mar 15 2009) Final
5-4 Win vs. Prince Albert (Mar 14 2009) Final
 
4-1 Loss @ Kootenay (Mar 14 2009) Final
5-4 Loss @ Prince Albert (Mar 13 2009) Final SO
 
4-1 Win vs. Kootenay (Mar 13 2009) Final
4-3 Loss @ Moose Jaw (Mar 10 2009) Final
 
2-1 Loss @ Edmonton (Mar 8 2009) Final
4-3 Loss vs. Lethbridge (Mar 7 2009) Final
 
4-3 Win @ Saskatoon (Mar 7 2009) Final
5-4 Win @ Prince Albert (Mar 6 2009) Final
Leading After 1st
22-4-0-2
25-5-2-2
Leading After 2nd
25-2-1-2
36-2-2-0
Tied After 1st
8-10-2-0
20-6-1-0
Tied After 2nd
5-5-0-0
10-5-1-1
Trailing After 1st
5-18-1-0
4-7-0-0
Trailing After 2nd
5-25-2-0
3-11-0-1
Out Shooting Opponents
15-10-0-0
34-6-1-2
Out Shot by Opponents
15-20-3-2
12-9-2-0
1-Goal Games
12-9-3-2
19-8-3-2
2-Goal Games
7-6-0-0
10-3-0-0
3-Goal Games
8-11-0-0
5-2-0-0

Saskatoon Blades
#
Player
GP
G
A
PTS
PIM
+/-
17
Derek Hulak
4
4
0
4
2
-2
9
Curtis Hamilton
3
1
2
3
4
1
11
Chris Langkow
4
1
2
3
4
-1
24
Walker Wintoneak
4
1
2
3
0
0
4
Teigan Zahn
3
0
3
3
4
1
32
Gaelan Patterson
4
2
0
2
2
-1
37
Travis Toomey
4
2
0
2
2
2
25
Burke Gallimore
4
0
2
2
2
-2
47
Colin Joe
4
0
2
2
0
0
19
Milan Kytnar
3
0
2
2
2
-2
8
Jyri Niemi
3
0
2
2
4
-1
6
Stefan Elliott
4
1
0
1
2
0
71
Brent Benson
1
0
1
1
0
1
27
Ryan Funk
4
0
1
1
0
-1
1
Braden Holtby
4
0
1
1
0
0
20
Josh Nicholls
3
0
1
1
0
1
16
X Mike Reich
1
0
1
1
0
1
44
Adam Chorneyko
4
0
0
0
8
0
26
Darian Dziurzynski
4
0
0
0
0
-1
41
Charles Inglis
3
0
0
0
0
1
3
Sam Klassen
4
0
0
0
4
0
5
Duncan Siemens
1
0
0
0
0
0
21
X Brody Sutter
1
0
0
0
0
1
55
Brendon Wall
2
0
0
0
0
0
 
#
Player
GP
W
L
OTL
SL
MIN
GA
GAA
SV%
1
Braden Holtby
4
3
1
0
0
242:46
8
1.98
0.918

Lethbridge Hurricanes
#
Player
GP
G
A
PTS
PIM
+/-
21
Kyle Beach (total)
3
2
1
3
6
-2
 
LET
2
2
1
3
4
-1
 
EVT
1
0
0
0
2
-1
12
Dwight King
4
2
1
3
4
5
14
Cam Braes
4
1
2
3
2
2
18
Carter Ashton
4
1
1
2
12
0
7
Carter Bancks
2
0
2
2
0
1
11
Zach Boychuk
2
1
0
1
2
-1
8
Mitch Versteeg
4
1
0
1
6
-1
7
Eric Mestery (total)
3
0
1
1
0
-2
 
LET
2
0
0
0
0
0
 
T.C
1
0
1
1
0
-2
3
Max Ross
2
0
1
1
0
1
9
Colton Sceviour
4
0
1
1
6
-4
22
Ben Wright
4
0
1
1
4
2
31
Brandon Anderson
1
0
0
0
0
0
26
Cody Castro
3
0
0
0
0
-1
21
X Mitch Fadden
1
0
0
0
0
0
16
Austin Fyten
3
0
0
0
2
0
28
Brent Henke
4
0
0
0
0
-1
17
Drew Hoff
3
0
0
0
2
-1
15
X Dan Iwanski
1
0
0
0
0
0
35
Juha Metsola
3
0
0
0
0
0
10
Craig Orfino
4
0
0
0
0
-1
2
Derek Ryckman
3
0
0
0
2
1
5
Luca Sbisa
1
0
0
0
0
-1
23
X Cody Smuk
1
0
0
0
21
-4
3
X Cam Stevens
1
0
0
0
0
-1
4
X Brock Sutherland
1
0
0
0
0
-1
19
Brody Sutter
2
0
0
0
0
0
20
Garrett Taylor
1
0
0
0
0
0
6
Brennan Yadlowski
4
0
0
0
6
1
 
#
Player
GP
W
L
OTL
SL
MIN
GA
GAA
SV%
35
Juha Metsola
3
1
1
1
0
182:53
9
2.95
0.900
31
Brandon Anderson
1
0
1
0
0
60:00
3
3.00
0.906
***
       This is my personal take at the one series that the league tabbed for television to follow. They're counting on it not being a four-game sweep...even though three of the four sets that SHAW-TV followed last season was over in the minimum number of games!
       They shouldn't have that issue in this series between the Blades and Hurricanes!!
       Those who think the 28-point difference in the standings between the second seeded Bridge City Bunch and the seventh place 'Canes means an easy series for Saskatoon are dreaming. The same goes for folks who think the fact that Lethbridge’s roster totals 318 games of WHL playoff experience, compared to Saskatoon’s 57 games, means that the Hurricanes are favoured.
       Lethbridge are the defending Eastern Conference champions and have 13 returnees from that team. In very few games did all 13 suit up together, hence the Hurricanes' modest regular season record. Plus, the 'Canes boast three first round N-H-L draft picks and another second round choice...something the Blades don't have. But, Saskatoon does have balance and depth.
       In goal, the Blades have Braden Holtby and Lethbridge has Juha Metsola...the Finn winning 12 games in the post-season last year. On defence, the Blades' six-man group is as solid as any in the league while the Hurricanes have Luca Sbisa, a Philadelphia first round pick who played the first half of the season in the N-H-L with the Flyers, two very good 20-year-olds in Ben Wright and Mitch Versteeg plus a second round draft pick in Eric Mestery.
       Up front, first round picks Zach Boychuk and Kyle Beach lead the way for Lethbridge while Colton Sceviour, Dwight King, Carter Bancks and Saskatoon product Carter Ashton have all had exceptional campaigns. The Blades counter with four lines that they have confidence in rolling...a different one or two coming up big from night-to-night. Heck, all four have produced on a given night this season!
       I can see each team winning once in both buildings in the first four games...meaning it'll be all square at 2-2 going into Game 5 a week from tomorrow at Credit Union Centre. At that point, we'll see which team prevails...the depth and balance of the Blades or the star power of the Hurricanes. I'll stick my neck out and say Saskatoon wins Games 5 and 6 and the series...but it could just as easily go the other way!
       Either way, it's going to be a dandy!!
***
       As for the rest of the first round WHL series, the league's first place overall team, the Calgary Hitmen, taking on the second year franchise, the Edmonton Oil Kings, in the first Battle of Alberta, W-H-L-style, since the Oil Kings lost to the Calgary Centennials in 1974 in five games. The Hitmen are an all-around dominant team that has had little to play for for quite a while. Edmonton has battled hard just to make it into the post-season. Most folks think this will be a sweep for Calgary. I think Edmonton might surprise them once...but this will be the Hitmen in five games!
       The third seeded Brandon Wheat Kings meet the Number 6 Kootenay Ice in a series that involves 14-hour bus rides...remember, flying is not permitted by W-H-L rules until the league final. Also, if this set goes to a seventh game, it would be played in Winnipeg as the Wheaties will be kicked out of their home building by the annual Royal Manitoba Winter Fair. This series shouldn't come to that. Brandon has too much firepower...which more than makes up for an, at times, shakey team defence and inconsistent goaltending. Captain Keith Aulie will return from an injury, which will help the Wheaties immensely, while Kootenay is not expected to get sparkplug forward Dustin Sylvester back from a broken ankle. Brandon takes this in five games.
       That brings me to fourth seeded Swift Current against Number 5 Medicine Hat. If goaltending and defence are the keys to winning, then the Broncos have the advantage with Travis Yonkman over Ryan Holfeld between the pipes and a bigger, stronger corps of blueliners in terms of playing the position. However, never underestimate the game-breaking ability of a Tyler Ennis or Brennan Bosch for the Hat. Keegan Dansereau can do the same thing for Swifty. I haven't predicted a first round upset so far...and you aren't getting it here, but it will be close...Swift Current in seven games!
       In the Western Conference, there’s first place Vancouver against eighth place Prince George. Are you kidding me?! The Giants had more than double the number of wins...57 to 25...and points...119 to 53...than the Cougars did. And, Vancouver won all eight regular season meetings by a total score of 40-11. I know, I know about regular season numbers should be tossed out come playoff time, but the Cats will celebrate like they've captured the Memorial Cup if they win one game...heck they might go bonkers if they stay within two goals at the end of any of the four straight that the Giants are going to win this series by!
       Next up is second seed Tri-Cities against Number 7 Everett. The Silvertips are young and could be very good in two years time. The Americans are built for now. Thomas Heemskerk has the ability to steal a game in goal for Everett...but Tri-Cities has Chet Pickard between the pipes to counter him and a lot more firepower. The Ams take it in five games.
       Third seed Kelowna meets Number 6 Kamloops in a good rivalry match-up. The Rockets won all nine regular season meetings, out-scoring the Blazers 48-18. That means Saskatoon product Justin Leclerc is going to have to be better in goal for Kamloops than he has been against a very strong Kelowna squad. Again, he might steal one game, but it'll be the Rockets in five games.
       Lastly, the four versus five seeded series is a close one...based on season standings and head-to-head matches in the regular campaign. But, defending league and Memorial Cup-champion Spokane was 20 points better than Seattle. However, the Thunderbirds did prevail in four of nine games against the Chiefs. Seattle has some tremendous top-end talent...but Spokane is another of those balanced "teams" in their play. I pick the Chiefs in six games.
***
 

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