CHL playoffs start tonight

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Kootenay prevailed 3-2 over Portland last night in Cranbrook to take a 2-1 series lead in the WHL Championship series.

 

[juliansteed]

Sea Dogs win 4-3 in double OT to take a 3-1 series lead. They can win the Q Championship in game 5 on Friday night on home ice. I will be in attendance of course. They may have lost another top forward to injury though. Zack Phillips left the game early in the 1st OT and did not return. He would be the 3rd top 6 forward to be out of the lineup.

 

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Kootenay just defeated Portland in OT tonight 5-4 to take a 3-1 series lead. Another strong game for Flames prospect Max Reinhart of the Ice.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

Kootenay just defeated Portland in OT tonight 5-4 to take a 3-1 series lead. Another strong game for Flames prospect Max Reinhart of the Ice.

Wow! Two consecutive OT wins for the Ice. They're getting it done when it counts.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

It sucks they won on a powerplay goal though.

 

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It sucks they won on a powerplay goal though.

I actually caught the last 10 minutes of the 3rd and OT on Shaw last night. The penalty call was legit (it was a bad penalty to take as well (i.e. 200 ft from the Hawks goal)

 

[Destroydacre]

I actually caught the last 10 minutes of the 3rd and OT on Shaw last night. The penalty call was legit (it was a bad penalty to take as well (i.e. 200 ft from the Hawks goal)

If there's one drawback to Portland's game it's their lack of discipline. They took a lot of penalties this year often during critical times in the game. They did the same thing against Spokane as well, but Spokane couldn't buy a power play goal to save their lives. However, Kootenay is winning this series because of their special teams play. They're 5 for 19 on the power play while holding Portland to just 2 goals on 18 chances.

 

[puckhead]

Kootenay closes out tonight, to win the WHL title.
their record in the playoffs was 16-3. holy shit.
and two of those losses came in the first three games.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

Kootenay closes out tonight, to win the WHL title.
their record in the playoffs was 16-3. holy shit.
and two of those losses came in the first three games.

That sucks. I was hoping to see Cizikas vs Nino in the Final. Oh well. They'll be on the Islanders soon enough.

 

[BlueandWhiteForever]

That sucks. I was hoping to see Cizikas vs Nino in the Final. Oh well. They'll be on the Islanders soon enough.

Aww that's too bad. Nino's days of winning are officially over now

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

Aww that's too bad. Nino's days of winning are officially over now

Very funny.

 

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Kootenay closes out tonight, to win the WHL title.
their record in the playoffs was 16-3. holy shit.
and two of those losses came in the first three games.

No secret to Kootenay's success...They work very hard and they play a sound defensive system that is very frustrating to their opponents.

Congrats to the Ice and good luck at the Memorial Cup!

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

No secret to Kootenay's success...They work very hard and they play a sound defensive system that is very frustrating to their opponents.

Congrats to the Ice and good luck at the Memorial Cup!

Is Brayden McNabb as good as his numbers say he is? I've read that when he's on the ice the players on the other team better keep their heads up too. The Sabres might have found themselves a stud defenseman in the 2nd round.

 

[juliansteed]

Sea Dogs lose 3-2 last night in game 5. They failed to close out the series on home ice. They didn't lose once in regulation on home ice all season long but have done so 2 out of 3 times in this series. Fortunately they are still undefeated on the road during the playoffs.

 

[juliansteed]

Huberdeau scored with 23 seconds left to tie game 6 and send it to OT and then the Sea Dogs score in double OT to win the QMJHL Championship.

In less dramatic fashion, Owen Sound beats Mississauga in OT in game 7 to win the OHL. Its not often I would call game 7 OT not very dramatic but because Mississauga is hosting the Memorial Cup, both of those teams were already guaranteed a spot in the tournament regardless of the outcome of the finals.

All 4 teams have now been decided. Those 3 teams will oin Kootenay at the Memorial Cup beginning on Friday when the hosts take on the Sea Dogs.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

Huberdeau scored with 23 seconds left to tie game 6 and send it to OT and then the Sea Dogs score in double OT to win the QMJHL Championship.

In less dramatic fashion, Owen Sound beats Mississauga in OT in game 7 to win the OHL. Its not often I would call game 7 OT not very dramatic but because Mississauga is hosting the Memorial Cup, both of those teams were already guaranteed a spot in the tournament regardless of the outcome of the finals.

All 4 teams have now been decided. Those 3 teams will oin Kootenay at the Memorial Cup beginning on Friday when the hosts take on the Sea Dogs.

I thought if Mississauga won than their would only be three teams in the Memorial Cup this year?

Anyway the parings for the first round which start Friday I think are:

Saint John vs Mississauga
Owen Sound vs Kootenay

 

[juliansteed]

I thought if Mississauga won than their would only be three teams in the Memorial Cup this year?

When the host team wins their league then the team they beat in the finals gets the 4th spot. I'm not sure when the last time that happened was but I know in 2006 Patrick Roy's Quebec Remparts got into the tournament that way and then they ended up winning the Memorial Cup.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

When the host team wins their league then the team they beat in the finals gets the 4th spot. I'm not sure when the last time that happened was but I know in 2006 Patrick Roy's Quebec Remparts got into the tournament that way and then they ended up winning the Memorial Cup.

That's cool. The more teams the better as far as I'm concerned. I want more hockey. Should be a great tournemant. It's going to be interesting to see if Cizikas can shut down Huberdeau. I'd like to see them become teammates, but I don't think Huberdeau will be available at 5.:sad:

 

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Is Brayden McNabb as good as his numbers say he is? I've read that when he's on the ice the players on the other team better keep their heads up too. The Sabres might have found themselves a stud defenseman in the 2nd round.

The five guys that impressed me on Kootenay are the following:

Cody Eakin - Capitals have a good one here - This ginger is a heck of a player

Brayden McNabb - Looks like a smaller version of Tyler Myers

Max Reinhart - I may have to eat some crow here, I wanted Sutter to take a flyer on Kabanov, but Reinhart is a solid two-way player

Matt Fraser - Hawks draft pick led the way with 16 playoff goals for the Ice

Nathan Lieuwen - The Ice goaltender played rock solid between the pipes and is undrafted.

 

[juliansteed]

That's cool. The more teams the better as far as I'm concerned. I want more hockey. Should be a great tournemant. It's going to be interesting to see if Cizikas can shut down Huberdeau. I'd like to see them become teammates, but I don't think Huberdeau will be available at 5.:sad:

It wouldn't shock me if he was gone by #5 but wouldn't shock me if he was still around either. He's really the only one I've watched regulalarly so I can't go by my own observations but based on reports from different scouting services and members of the media, it seems he could go anywhere from 3-7.