WHL playoffs underway

[juliansteed]

that Q matchup isn't even fair.
combined score of 21-5 through two games.


man, now that I look at it, all of the first round series' have a bit of a steep tilt to them
QMJHL Network

Yeah those same 2 teams met in the 1st round last year and I think the total scoring after the 4 game sweep was something like 40-2. So at least they've already scored more goals this year than they did for the entire series last year.

 

[esls79]

A guy you should be excited about seeing next year is Charlie Coyle. Slightly off topic since this is the Q and not the Dub, but after 2 playoffs games Coyle has 6 goals and 5 assists. He had a hat trick in each game. He's a beast among boys out there. Oh and his linemate (fellow Wild prospect that can also be linked to the Burns trade) Zack Phillips has 2 goals and 6 assists. After 2 games they are numbers 1 and 2 in scoring.

P.S. Sorry fellow Sharks fans.

Yeah, I saw those stats earlier today. Is Cape Bretton that bad defensively? The Wild are a ways away, but the prospect pool isn't as empty as it was three years ago. Thank you San Jose.

 

[juliansteed]

Yeah, I saw those stats earlier today. Is Cape Bretton that bad defensively? The Wild are a ways away, but the prospect pool isn't as empty as it was three years ago. Thank you San Jose.

Cape Breton really just sucks as a team in all areas. I believe they are a pretty young team though. They foolishly went for it a couple of years ago and traded away a lot of prospects and have been paying for it the past couple of seasons. What few decent players they had left have been traded away to help their rebuild. Cape Breton currently has no NHL drafted players. On the other hand about half of the Sea Dogs have either been drafted and/or signed to an NHL contract. Saint John is very strong offensively. With the addition of Coyle after the World Juniors they probably became better offensively than they were last year when they won the Memorial Cup. They are probably a bit weaker on defense though without Simon Despres. This series really is David's little sister vs Goliath's big brother on steroids.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

Oshawa beat Niagara tonight 6-4 in game 3 of their series. Niagara leads 2-1, but they're the top seed in their conference. This wasn't supposed to happen. Ryan Strome leads all playoff scorers with 8 points.

We have 1 upset in the making as 7th seed Guelph is leading 2nd seed Plymouth 2-0.

 

[juliansteed]

Well the Moncton Wildcats are now on life support.

The Halifax Mooseheads take a 3-0 lead with a win in Moncton tonight. Nathan MacKinnon had 2 goals and 1 assist, giving him 5 goals and 2 assists in the 3 game so far. Not bad for a 16 year old, and this was actually expected to be 1 of the more competitive series of the 1st round. This is the only series to have played a 3rd game so far. I expect at least a few of the teams that are down 2-0 to get a win tomorrow night.

Speaking of MacKinnon, at about 30 seconds you'll see a pretty sweet goal from him in game 1.

 

[dash]

You know, I might be able to endorse a "Not Winnin' for MacKinnon" strategy...

 

[juliansteed]

You know, I might be able to endorse a "Not Winnin' for MacKinnon" strategy...

Nice! Must spread rep. I was trying to think up a slogan that worked but couldn't come up with anything but that is perfect!

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

You know, I might be able to endorse a "Not Winnin' for MacKinnon" strategy...

Trade Iginla & Kiprusoff for picks & the Flames can battle Columbus for the 1st pick next year.

 

[dash]

Trade Iginla & Kiprusoff for picks & the Flames can battle Columbus for the 1st pick next year.

I can see Kipper, but I really think Iggy will retire as a Calgary Flame. The only way Iggy will get traded is if he goes to management and says he wants to be moved (mgmt will not go to him). With the current contracts they have with guys like Tanguay and Cammy, it doesn't make sense to trade Iggy.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

Trade Iginla & Kiprusoff for picks & the Flames can battle Columbus for the 1st pick next year.

I can see Kipper, but I really think Iggy will retire as a Calgary Flame. The only way Iggy will get traded is if he goes to management and says he wants to be moved (mgmt will not go to him). With the current contracts they have with guys like Tanguay and Cammy, it doesn't make sense to trade Iggy.

Understandable.

My team will be in the hunt because Wang won't spend much above the cap floor.

 

[juliansteed]

Well after being named CHL player of the week, Charlie Coyle cooled off a bit. He only managed to score 2 goals with no assists tonight as the Sea Dogs defeated the Screaming Eagles 8-2 to take a 3-0 series lead. Coyle now has 8 goals in the 3 games to go along with 4 assists (he had 1 taken away from him game 1).

Moncton is the 1st casualty of the Q playoffs as they got swept by losing in OT tonight to Halifax. MacKinnon with another goal in that game.

After tonight there is 1 series that is 2-1 and all other series' are 3-0 with the only surprise being Baie Comeau going up 3-0 over Victoriaville. Round 2 should be much more interesting.

 

[dash]

It was the Emerson Etem show in Saskatoon tonight as the Tigers won 3-2 in OT to take a stranglehold 3-0 lead in the series. Etem scored all the goals for the Tigers tonight (yes including the OT winner).

 

[Destroydacre]

Best of luck to Brendan Kichton & the Spokane Chiefs!!

Just thought you'd want to know that Kichton took a puck to the face in game one of the series that broke his jaw and he's done for the playoffs. Very unfortunate break (literally). He was the Chiefs leading scorer this year and arguably their best defensive defenseman as well. It's also a shame that it could have been his last game in a Chiefs sweater. Here's to a speedy recovery Kich!


In on ice news, the Chiefs managed to beat Vancouver 3-2 to cut the deficit in the series to 2-1. Hopefully the Chiefs can at least send the series back to Vancouver tied.

 

[OregonDucks]

Portland is rolling through round 1. Hopefully they can get back to the finals this year, but this time win it!

 

[dash]

Portland is rolling through round 1. Hopefully they can get back to the finals this year, but this time win it!

Imagine if they had Niederreiter and Johansen on the team this year...Still a very good team without those two guys.

 

[OregonDucks]

Imagine if they had Niederreiter and Johansen on the team this year...Still a very good team without those two guys.

they would have been really good.

 

[dash]

Tigers sweep the Blades with a 5-0 victory tonight in Saskatoon...

 

[Destroydacre]

Tigers sweep the Blades with a 5-0 victory tonight in Saskatoon...

Medicine Hat the first WHL team to move on. Kamloops and Tri-City look like they won't be far behind.

 

[juliansteed]

Well the Screaming Eagles put up their best fight tonight against the Sea Dogs but still get swept by losing 5-1. They managed to keep Charlie Coyle to just 1 goal and no assists, bringing his goal total to 9 after the 4 games. Tomas Jurco had a goal and 2 assists.

Elsewhere it was a night of sweeps. Baie Comeau completes the upset over Victoriaville by winning in OT to take the series 4-0. They will face the Sea Dogs in round 2 in what could be an interesting contest if the continue to play like they did against Victoriaville. There is only 1 series that can't be a sweep as Chicoutimi leads Bathurst 3-1. Patrick Roy's Quebec Remparts and the Drummondville Voltigeurs had the night off with Quebec leading the series 3-0. Every other series has been a sweep. Looking forward to a more exciting 2nd round.

 

[Destroydacre]

Welp the Chiefs blow a 2-0 third period lead against the Giants and give up the tying goal with 31 seconds left in the third. OT upcoming. The Chiefs are 1-9 in their last 10 home OT playoff games dating back to 2003.