WHL playoffs underway

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Big game tonight in Portland - Winterhawks can take a stranglehold (Ted Nugent) on the series with a win, Oil Kings looking to tie up the series at 2-2.

Game 3 was a sellout at the Rose Garden by the way, I expect tonight's game to be sold out as well.

 

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So I'm watching game 4 between Edmonton and Portland on Shaw - The Oil Kings had a 3-1 lead heading into the 3rd period, but Baertschi has scored two goals in the 3rd period to knot the game at 3-3.

 

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We're going to overtime - Maybe Sven can complete the natural hat trick with the OT winner?

 

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Damn it, Edmonton wins the game in OT (Portland didn't push the pace at all in overtime)

Series tied 2-2.

 

[juliansteed]

I don't care who wins that one but I'm glad it's going at least 6 and I hope it goes 7. Sea Dogs won their 2 home games on the weekend, both by a score of 3-2 and now lead 2-0 as the series switches to Rimouski for the next 3 (if necessary). Jonathan Huberdeau will make his return after serving a 2 game suspension.

 

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By the way, Baertschi has been named first star the last three games of this WHL Championship series...Too bad Mac Carruth is the weak link for the Winterhawks between the pipes.

Edit: Also named CHL player of the week

http://flames.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=631152

 

[Destroydacre]

By the way, Baertschi has been named first star the last three games of this WHL Championship series...Too bad Mac Carruth is the weak link for the Winterhawks between the pipes.

Edit: Also named CHL player of the week

Baertschi named CHL Player of the Week - Calgary Flames - News

Wonder if Portland wishes they had used the 2 first round picks they traded to Seattle to get Marcel Noebels to get Calvin Pickard instead.

 

[jstewismybastardson]

ahhh, the old Rob Neidermayer ploy:

Seth Jones' younger brother, Caleb, was selected 64th overall by Portland in the WHL Bantam draft. Portland has negotiating rights to Seth.

and it worked. Seth signed in Portland today.
nice pick-up.

Agent JP Barry NOT impressed with WHL types who claim Portland paid cash to his client Seth Jones a top1-2-3 pick in next year's NHL draft..

even if it did happen, is that against the rules?

 

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Don't know if that's against the rules, but give Portland credit for making some bold moves.

 

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Wonder if Portland wishes they had used the 2 first round picks they traded to Seattle to get Marcel Noebels to get Calvin Pickard instead.

Even if they manage to get by Edmonton, I just don't know if Carruth can give them the goaltending to win the Memorial Cup.

 

[Destroydacre]

Agent JP Barry NOT impressed with WHL types who claim Portland paid cash to his client Seth Jones a top1-2-3 pick in next year's NHL draft..

even if it did happen, is that against the rules?

WHL players are not supposed to get paid. They get a little something per month ($150-$600 depending on age) but that's supposed to be it. I don't doubt that there have been back room deals over the years to pay top talent to choose the CHL over NCAA, but as far as I know there's never been any official investigation or anyone admitting they got paid after the fact.

 

[Destroydacre]

Even if they manage to get by Edmonton, I just don't know if Carruth can give them the goaltending to win the Memorial Cup.

I agree, in a short tournament you've gotta get good goaltending capable of stealing a game. Almost every Memorial Cup winner at least the last decade has had that type of goaltender. Everyone in the Memorial Cup has a good offense so a team like Portland can't rely on outscoring everyone in single games like they could over the course of a series in the WHL. Looks like game 5 will be live again tonight here in the States. With no Mariners and no NHL playoffs, I'll be watching. Hopefully it's a good game.

 

[jstewismybastardson]

WHL players are not supposed to get paid. They get a little something per month ($150-$600 depending on age) but that's supposed to be it. I don't doubt that there have been back room deals over the years to pay top talent to choose the CHL over NCAA, but as far as I know there's never been any official investigation or anyone admitting they got paid after the fact.

theres the rub ... theyre not supposed to get paid BUT like you mention, they get paid per diems ... so to me ... its a nothing issue

chl owners rake in the cash on the backs of 16 to 20 year olds trying to cave each others faces in ... i got no issue with a guy being paid up front to join a team when they already have negotiation rights whatsoever

 

[juliansteed]

Sea Dogs are up 5-0 after the 1st period in game 4 with a chance to sweep. If anyone is looking for a game to watch with no NHL game you can watch online here as long as you don't mind French.

TVA SPORT on freeIPTV.be

 

[juliansteed]

Well it's all over in the Q. Rimouski must have been deflated after falling 3-0 last night because this was by far their worst performance of the series. After giving the Sea Dogs 3 pretty close games, they lose 8-0 at home as the Sea Dogs complete the sweep. Caps prospect Stanislav Galiev gets a hat trick as well as an assist. The Sea Dogs move onto the Memorial Cup tournament for the 2nd straigt year after going 16-1 in the Q playoffs with the 1 loss coming in OT. Charlie Coyle picks up the Q playoff MVP award. Probably could have given it to Galiev as well. Coyle becomes the 1st American player to win that award since Pat Lafontaine.

 

[ritari330]

Well it's all over in the Q. Rimouski must have been deflated after falling 3-0 last night because this was by far their worst performance of the series. After giving the Sea Dogs 3 pretty close games, they lose 8-0 at home as the Sea Dogs complete the sweep. Caps prospect Stanislav Galiev gets a hat trick as well as an assist. The Sea Dogs move onto the Memorial Cup tournament for the 2nd straigt year after going 16-1 in the Q playoffs with the 1 loss coming in OT. Charlie Coyle picks up the Q playoff MVP award. Probably could have given it to Galiev as well. Coyle becomes the 1st American player to win that award since Pat Lafontaine.

Good to see Galiev back and producing after his injury earlier in the year. I'm curious to see how he develops as the years go on.

 

[juliansteed]

Good to see Galiev back and producing after his injury earlier in the year. I'm curious to see how he develops as the years go on.

After missing most of the regular season, Galiev has been a force in the playoffs for sure. My guess is he'll goto the AHL next year and he probably needs to hit the gym a bit harder but it wouldn't surprise me to see him up with the Caps before too long.

 

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Edmonton won 4-3 last night to take a 3-2 series lead over Portland. I didn't see the game, just the highlights, and Carruth gave up the GWG in the final minute on a wrister from just inside the blueline.

 

[Destroydacre]

Edmonton won 4-3 last night to take a 3-2 series lead over Portland. I didn't see the game, just the highlights, and Carruth gave up the GWG in the final minute on a wrister from just inside the blueline.

Carruth was the difference in the game (in a bad way). I thought Portland was better overall, though Edmonton did have stretches where they played very well, but he just could not make the big save. Brossoit made some absolutely unbelievable saves yesterday and you'll notice a trend with all 3 goals. They were all scored from the slot or closer by Bartschi, Rattie and Noebels, arguably their 3 best players. No chance to stop any of them. Carruth had a chance to stop 3 of the 4, two beat him clean glove side, and the third goal he literally just watched the Edmonton guy put it in without even trying to stop it. 25 years down the road, when all of these guys' careers are coming to an end, people are gonna look back on the 2011 and 2012 Winterhawks and go how the hell did they never win a league title let alone a Memorial Cup. And Carruth will be the reason why.


Here's the highlights for anyone who's interested.

 

[Destroydacre]

Well it's all over in the Q. Rimouski must have been deflated after falling 3-0 last night because this was by far their worst performance of the series. After giving the Sea Dogs 3 pretty close games, they lose 8-0 at home as the Sea Dogs complete the sweep. Caps prospect Stanislav Galiev gets a hat trick as well as an assist. The Sea Dogs move onto the Memorial Cup tournament for the 2nd straigt year after going 16-1 in the Q playoffs with the 1 loss coming in OT. Charlie Coyle picks up the Q playoff MVP award. Probably could have given it to Galiev as well. Coyle becomes the 1st American player to win that award since Pat Lafontaine.

Congrats! Back to back league titles are very rare. Good luck to the Sea Dogs at the Memorial Cup!