When is losing your best player to suspension a good thing?

photo: Jimmy Budinski

Many of us were pretty frustrated when Brendan Leipsic got suspended.  I was one of them:

@jleipsic8 @bleipsic we weren't using him for anything
— CellPhones&PlaneTix (@hawkeyblog) January 1, 2014

Its one thing for the highest scoring team in the WHL to lose a guy off of the top line - the key to this was the timing of it, with 3 other top players overseas at the time.  The Winterhawks went 2-5 over the 7 games that Leipsic was suspended.  Of course, they were short other players simultaneously, but I would argue that only magnifies the importance of #28 in the lineup.

Its unclear if the 'Hawks could have caught Kelowna anyway, but those two head to head games really hurt - those are generally referred to as "4 point games" - so it was an 8 point weekend.  You could look at it like this suspension + WJC may have cost home ice advantage, should the 'Hawks face the Rockets.

I haven't seen this expressed elsewhere, but its my opinion that Leipsic not getting the call from Team Canada contributed directly to his suspension.  For a guy who led the WHL in scoring last year, and had a good playoff run - you had to expect his 19 year to be a big one.  The Predators were high on him in camp this year.  It seemed to me when the WJC lists came out with no #28 - that his game changed, and we saw more of the Leipsic who's more interested in putting guys through the glass than pucks in the net.

The game in Red Deer, in front of Canada coach Brent Sutter, Leipsic was particularly ornery.  Scored 2 goals, 1 assist, +1, #1st star - but the play that sticks out is he threw a serious hit right at the buzzer.  One of those unnecessary plays that reeked like frustration to me.


Dylan Bumbarger has been known to throw truth bricks:

To say something obvious: 28 has to cut that out if he wants a career beyond the Central Hockey League. That was rumored to be a reason he wasn't picked to go to camp with Team Canada, as well.

So we're watching the 'Hawks during this stretch, and they're getting shelled.  The players are frustrated, the fans are frustrated, and I've gotta think that Leipsic is frustrated.

I wonder if this game was as difficult for Leipsic as it was for the rest of us? #whl
— CellPhones&PlaneTix (@hawkeyblog) January 1, 2014

If the purpose of punishment is to alter behavioral patterns, than lets hope this discipline was successful.  Those 24 days between games presented a lengthy opportunity for self reflection, as well as influence from the 'Hawks & Predators brass.

The results have been impressive: in 8 games post suspension he's potted 8 goals, 10 assists, and is +13.  Sure, he's picked up 14 PIM in that stretch, but nothing too serious.  He's the kind of guy who needs to play "on the edge" to be successful, and he appears to have rediscovered where that edge is.

Often times I make the point that there are penalties worth taking, regardless of the result.  If your goalie gets ran, and you take a penalty roughing the guy up, thats fine.  Even if they score on the powerplay, that's still fine.  Even if it costs you the game (once in a while), you can live with it.  You can't just let guys take liberties.

We may look at this 2-5 stretch as the best thing that could have happened to this 'Hawks team.  It sure looks like that time out of the lineup has refocused Leipsic for the stretch run.  He just may have a little extra gas in the tank for a long playoff run, too.

Time will tell.

2013 WHL Finals preview

We are going to keep this simple.

Seems like you are always hearing about how you need secondary scoring to win in the playoffs.  While that's a fairly obvious statement, it mostly stems from the idea that your top line is going to see a lot of the other teams best defense paring, and often their checking line.  Depending on what degree of success defensively they have against you, that makes you dependent on your second line (and beyond) scoring - but they also will have a more favorable match up.

The 2012 WHL Finals featured a red hot Sven Baertschi - who put up 34 points in 22 games.  His partner in crime, Ty Rattie was credited for 33.  You couldn't ask for more from that line - they played really well.  Almost well enough to make you forget the heavy price they paid for their center, Marcel Noebels.

How 'bout that second line?

That series was pretty much Brendan Leipsic's coming out party - he drew lots of praise from Edmonton media, and it was well deserved.  One could argue that he rode that momentum into a WHL scoring title this year.

Cam Reid? Well, that 2nd round pick that Edmonton ended up with sure would have been nice, except who the hell knows if the 'Hawks would have been allowed to use it anyway.  I wonder if he wishes he stuck around St Cloud State for one more year - as they made the Frozen Four.

I distinctly remember the spring of 2007, when the 'Hawks had that 1st overall bantam pick.  There was a buzz all over town about the Trailblazers also holding the 1st overall pick - and we know how that turned out.

There was some concern with top bantam picks not reporting - and going the NCAA route.  Portland had that problem with Patrick Wiercioch, for example.  That same 2007 draft had the 2nd overall pick not report to Kelowna - which sucks for them.  The 'Hawks were looking at that same player, and traded down to the #5 slot to avoid that mess - and took Brad Ross.

I was really excited about that line of a 16 year old Ross, with Killian Hutt & Colin Reddin.  I thought they were gonna win us some games.

Ross is full of truculence - which explains why then-Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke traded up to get him.  I'm cool with that: I really liked when he beat up Mitch Wahl in back to back games.

However, that's not all you need out of a guy like that - you need scoring.  Toughness is a nice touch, but you have to put the puck in the net.  Ross did that, for the most part, but the WHL Finals is an entirely different story.

I predicted before the last Oil Kings series, "As Brad Ross goes, that's how the series goes."  Well, dude went out and put up 0 goals, 2 assists, was a (-1), an put up 31PIM.  When you have the #5 overall bantam pick, who is a 2nd round NHL pick, you need more than that.  You know, like a goal - maybe even two.

Throw in both Finals appearances and you are looking at 10 games played, 0 goals, 2 assists, (-4), and 47 PIM.  He missed a couple games in the Kootenay series, which only adds to the frustration.  Of course, he had a good run in 2012 - 22 points in 22 games - but zilch on the biggest stage.

I'm prepared to make the same prediction for the 2013 WHL Finals as the last 2:  as Portland's 2nd line goes, the series will go.  I think we all know how the Rattie line is clicking - pushing all time goal scoring numbers.  While I'm not sure its possible to stop them, you can't be completely dependent on them either. 

I am 100% confident in the De Leo - Bjorkstrand - Leier line will be good in this series.  They total 16 goals in 15 games played between them & and have a cumulative +28 rating.  Serving as the 2nd unit on the power play, they look to get favorable match ups.  You have to figure Edmonton will spend their best defensive resources in an attempt to slow down the top line (good luck with that) - leaving opportunities even strength for this line.  I'm optimistic.

Throw in some contributions from guys like Iverson, Taylor Peters, or Paul Bittner - and you're in there.

Bring on the Oil Kings - revenge is a dish served cold (on ice)

Rock the Red! (WHL Final Game 1)

So that escalated quickly....

I felt Game 5 was a successful white-out - considering one days notice, and being entirely player generated - but it appears that fans want to try red this time.  Seams reasonable to me.  It looks like some key fans are already on board - including influential booster club members, so I'm sold.

We had ore fans in white than Kamloops had fans, period.  Lets see if we can get "Rocking the Red" to take off for this round.

You in?

UPDATE:  THE TEAM MAY BE CALLING FOR ANOTHER WHITEOUT - STAY TUNED TO OFFICIAL CHANNELS

 

Kamloops V Portland: Game 5 / series recap

 

  

  

  

 

 

 scoresheet

video highlights

handshake photos

game photos from the O

post-game fan discussion:

united001

I really like that the Hawks had their bus packed and ready to go. No cockiness, they respected the competition, made no assumptions, just put on their work boots and kicked ass and got to unload the bus for a well earned trip back to billets (after a bit of a partying I suspect)

 Winterhawks put away Kamloops.....

Rattie is the No. 2 playoff goal-scorer in WHL history, so he’s seen those lights go on lots of times in the post-season. Still, he said, that goal was special. “That would be top goal of my career, with the crowd being so loud and how close a game it was. It was awesome to score. … an exciting game to play.’’

Rattie reflected on a major-junior career filled with playoff highlights. “Unbelievable,’’ he said. “I’ve been so lucky to be here for four deep playoff runs, three WHL Finals. Now the last thing to do is win this next series and go on to the Memorial Cup.’’

 Guy Charron quotes:

They have so much firepower and transition, and they were very committed to playing two-way hockey and made it very difficult for us. So, they deserve their wins. 

It wasn't easy for (our top guys). Whoever played against them are great players. It made it tough to produce, we didn't have much room. Let's give credit to their defensive corps, their top four is as good as anybody I've ever seen in this league and all four might play in the NHL.

Drinnan's piece:

 And so ends a Kamloops season that included a lot of highlights, from an early-season franchise-record 14-game winning streak to the No. 1 position in the CHL’s weekly rankings, from a second-round sweep of the arch-rival Kelowna Rockets to an appearance in the Western Conference final for the first time since 1999.

“There’s a lot of good memories this season,” Charron said. “To start off with 14 wins in a row was a unique situation.

“I think this group of players has accomplished something tremendous in terms of consistency and winning over 40 games. Credit has to be given to these guys.

 Things got a little rough late:
 

Hard to tell what happened there, I didn't get a good angle - neither did the camera guy.  I will say I love what DeLeo did there - not generally that kind of guy, but he more than held his own.

How 'bout that Joel Edmundson?  Got kicked out of this game (twice) in that scrum,  took the penalty that set up the first 'Hawks goal, and went -1 on the night (-2 for the series overall, with their Game 3 win being the only plus night at +2).  He is a signed 2nd round NHL pick (STL).  Kamloops brought him in at deadline time, giving up a ton for him: 

The Blazers acquired St. Louis Blues second-rounder Joel Edmundson and a fifth-round bantam pick in 2015 from the Moose Jaw Warriors for 18-year-old blueliner Tyler Bell, 2012 first-round bantam pick Jayden Halbgewachs, and a first-round pick in 2015.

 I suppose the Blazers felt that they needed to go for it this year, after last playoffs winning their first series in a long, long time - including a run of 19 straight losses.  These playoffs featured their first home OT goal since Jarome Iginla had one in 1996.  Still, seems like a huge gamble to load up this year - when by trade deadline it was apparent what kind of year the 'Hawks were having.

When Rattie stole a puck for that shorthanded breakaway in Game 5, it immediately brought me back to the Tri-City series in last years WCF - when Shinnimin got loose for a breakaway - but Carruth beat him.  In both plays, our guys came out on top, and won the series.

Stay tuned for more from this page during the week - and I'll see you on Friday:

Kamloops V Portland: Games 3 & 4

 

 

**** Game 3 ****

scoresheet

video highlights

photo essay 

real time fan discussion 

Drinnan: Blazers right back in Western Conference final

“It was a matter of, we weren’t generating what we thought we needed to generate,” Guy Charron, the Blazers’ head coach, explained. “You sometimes go back to what gave you success and early on they were the top line in the WHL. There was no reason to think they wouldn’t be able to put it together.”

“They’re a good line,” said Travis Green, Portland’s interim general manager and head coach, “one of the best lines in the league. But we made mistakes tonight that we don’t usually make.”

I was kind of worried all day leading up to Game 4, but then this happened:

**** Game 4 ****

 scoresheet

video highlights 

photo essay 

real time fan discussion  

Drinnan:  West coast offence carries Winterhawks to Game 4 victory

The second period took on something of a different tone, with the Blazers pushing and the Winterhawks seeming to have lost the oomph from their game.

It started when Portland wasn’t able to muster even one shot on a power play that took up the first 1:44 of the period.

And it continued for the rest of the period, the result being a 16-5 edge in shots for the home boys, but they weren’t able to solve Carruth. On one occasion when Carruth was beaten, winger JC Lipon drilled a goalpost.

In the second half of period, Kamloops forwards Kale Kessy and Colin Smith both had Carruth dead to rights but couldn’t beat him.

“I thought our second period was very strong. We had 16 shots,” Charron said. “But, again, as we were having momentum we took another penalty in the offensive zone.”
Kessy was penalized for roughing at 13:21 after he separated Jones’ head from his helmet.

“It’s frustrating for everyone,” Charron continued, “because we’re a team that when things go well, yeah, we’re a happy group and we play well . . . we’re hard to play against. But adversity . . . all year we’ve had a difficult time dealing with it.”

I concur with Drinnan that the 'Hawks carried the play in the 1st, aided by an early 5-on-3 which they converted.  2-0 at the break.

However, that 2nd period was all Kamloops.  They didn't even need to run the zamboni in their end of the ice.  They threw the goddamned kitchen sink at Carruth, who was  named CHL goalie of the week,  and got nothing.  The 'Hawks fans in the chat room were just hoping to get to the break without giving up too many goals.

Starting out the 3rd with that early Petan goal just killed the Blazers - as it would anyone.  Took the life right out of the building.  Then, controversy:

Iverson was given a 5 min major + tossed from the game.

Watching that hit with my Rose Garden colored glasses on, it looks like clean shoulder-to-chest to me.  No charging, no leaving the feet, no targeting the head, not late.

That being said, I get it.  You and I have the benefit of watching it as many times as we like, and in slow motion.  In real time, at least on the webstream - this hit sounded gnarly.  Sounded like a shotgun blast, to be honest.  Then, you've got Ranford's cage flying - which is a terrible visual.

Now, you have heard a thunderous check, and there's a heart & soul 5 year Blazer laying there in a heap.  The natives are restless, booing with some empties littering the playing surface.  The Blazer trainer is on the ice.  The linesman made the call, which you almost have to do just to avoid a potential riot - Kamloops is known as "Little Montreal" after all.

**** Game 5 preview ****

Well, goddamned blogger won't load photos right now - which sucks.

Its a whiteout for game 5.  I'm pretty sure this was an organic thing between the players, and they just got behind it one by one.  I don't think I've ever seen that before:  generally the team handles the marketing.  These kids just got a wild hair, and we need to back them up.

Also cranking up the fun factor, Chase Souto said to Kamloops Weekly:

After the game, Blazer forward Chase Souto offered these words when asked about the daunting task of erasing the two-game deficit.

"We did it last year. I think we're going to go in their barn, cause a ruck and shut their fans up," he said. "Bunch of losers down there. Just gonna give it our all."

I love that kind of stuff.  Should be a party on Friday night.  The 'Hawks facebook page was all over that.

Kamloops V Portland - games 1 & 2

The layoff between series left room for lots of preview pieces, but this one from Drinnan is the must read out of the bunch:

"It all has served to turn the Winterhawks into the most despised - nay, most hated - organization in the history of the WHL, which has been around since the summer of 1966. Who's No. 2? No one. The Winterhawks are the only entrant. They rule. They own the category. Back in the day, the Flin Flon Bombers and the big, bad New Westminster Bruins were feared for what they might do to you on the ice. But the organizations weren't hated.

The Winterhawks are. Period."

**** Game 1 ****

Scoresheet

video highlights

photo essay

fans postgame discussion 

united001:

In my opinion Bozon hurt his team by playing. I'll wager he begged Charon to play, totally ineffective. Smith was no better. They were better off without both vs. Kelowna, but what are you gonna do vs. a team that has you outnumbered.

Paul Buker / Scott Sepich piece

Maybe it was Carruth, a notorious trash talker, who got into the Blazers’ heads.

“They kind of left me alone there in the first, and I kind of brought it on myself in the second and third,’’ he said of the back-and-forth. “It’s something I’ll probably need to work on in Game 2. Keep my mouth shut and my stick down.’’

Carruth said Kessy – who amazingly has been suspended seven times in his career – nailed him a good one. “He elbowed me, stuck me in the head, whatever. It’s what they’re going to try and do all series,’’ said Carruth. “It’s just going to be the way it is.’’

Dylan Bumbarger, one of the best Winterhawks bloggers, had some thoughts:

But in the last five minutes, as the Blazers became less focused on winning and more focused on "sending a message", the Winterhawks took some ill-advised retaliations. Adam De Champlain took a really dumb obvious trip at the Kamloops blue line and then added a rough that originally was going to put Portland shorthanded four minutes, which would have given the Blazers a chance to get back in the game, before Tyler Hansen took a dumb retaliation of his own and cancelled two minutes of it.

 From another Dylan post:

Not remarked on in the scoring: The monster game Seth Jones had. I thought he was Portland's best player after Carruth. Nobody got by him.

So, a good performance, with a slight worry about the impact of the end of the game.

  **** Game 2 ****

Scoresheet

video highlights

photo essay

post-game fan discussion:

Dylan Bumbarger, community blogger

question: is Portland playing at a higher level than they did on their double-digit winning streaks? I think they might be.

 Paul Buker / Scott Sepich piece:

Kamloops’ worst nightmare is unfolding in the Western Conference finals. The question is, can the Blazers do anything to stop it?

 Dylan's next day thoughts:

Following yesterday's events you'd have no idea which organization was out of favor with the league. Yes, I'm as shocked as anyone else.

Finally, the most obvious part, and the most satisfying: the Winterhawks didn't overreact. They learned from Friday, and did just enough to defend themselves, let the Blazers hang themselves with officials, and used the power plays to help gain momentum. That the league essentially backed them up helped--you see teams including the Winterhawks all the time taking matters into their own hands when they don't feel justice is being served--but kudos to the group for staying focused.

Part two:

The Winterhawks were almost perfect in their own zone the whole game. Seth Jones had one mixup/bad pass that led to a Kamloops partial breakaway, the only real blemish.

I'd have still given him the number one star. If his draft stock even needed to rise, it did this weekend, he even gained some points in the "physical" and "standing up for teammates" categories.

  Next day Buker / Sepich piece full of great quotes:

Charron is waiting for Kamloops’ skilled forwards to show up. The likes of Colin Smith and Tim Bozon, Brendan Ranford and JC Lipon.  

“With all the experience I've had in hockey, when you look at the success of teams you have to look at your best players,’’ Charron told the Oregonian’s Scott Sepich after Saturday’s game. “Their best players are on the scoresheet every night. For us, our big guns haven't showed up on the scoresheet yet and it's going to be difficult until they get going.’’

Mac Carruth is killing it:

 Is there a hotter goaltender in hockey than Portland's Mac Carruth, the Chicago Blackhawks' draft pick?

Find me somebody - at any level - who has had a more sizzling month of April.

Samantha Meese made some observations:

 Better late than never: The Blazers start a three-ring circus late in Game 1, Joe Mahon returns to the lineup in Game 2. Coincidence? I think not. But no fireworks of the fighting kind were needed until late in the third period of Game 2, when Joe finally took care of business with JC Lipon to the delight of a packed house.

throw another draft pick on the fire

The events of the weekend's games have been covered pretty well, so I'm going a different direction.

I've been pushing this idea for a while now, but we are in the midst of something truly special right now.  Its in our best interest as fans to take all of this in, as a wave like the 'Hawks are riding doesn't come around very often.  Every game we are seeing records set - franchise playoff shutouts, all time WHL games played, the all time playoff goals number is in jeopardy, etc etc etc. 

Around town, at work, or whatever - more and more folks notice my 'Hawks gear (and playoff beard) and ask me "how are they doing?  We're thinking about getting to a game..." - and I always tell them that there's plenty of room on the bandwagon, but they better do it quick.  The next home game could very well be Game 1 of the final.  This train is rollin' along with a head of steam.

I've been backing the 'Hawks since the tail end of the 2005 season, and I've never seen the Glass Palace rocking like it was on Saturday night.  I was still on the concourse at the start of player intros and it sounded like they were scoring goals already.  The folks by me were all sorts of rowdy, which made for a pretty fun atmosphere - one guy was hellbent on getting a "KESSY SUCKS" chant going, with mixed results.

I missed the goddamned Boychuk jersey from the 2011 final by 3 tickets in the raffle.  I was joking about how it had to be in good shape, being how he missed time in that series.

Cherish this run - who knows when (if) we will see something like this again.  Spokane was a good team, with a nice season, and their best couldn't touch the 'Hawks best.  Blew 'em right out of the water.  This series is still young, but its shaping up much the same:  if the 'Hawks play their game, up to their potential, then the Blazers don't stand a chance.  No one does.

Kale Kessy - turned over a new leaf?

Kale Kessy is killing it right now.  This playoffs he's got loose for a hat trick, another hat trick,
in addition to an OT series clincher.  Dude's been a candidate for the Cy Young, with 11G / 2A in 10 games - while picking up only 8 penalty minutes.  Watching the video highlights of that Game 4 of the Kelowna series, it appears as though the Blazers put together a nice highlight package.  They even show most of the penalties, although that may be in part due to the heat created by the 11-to-1 powerplay ratio handed out in this game.

Kessy's had a pretty interesting year.  Started out in Medicine Hat, where he picked up his 7th WHL suspension - 12 games worth - which is how he caught my attention.  While suspended, he was traded to Vancouver, and that team struggled.  At the deadline, Kamloops picked him up for the stretch run.  Kessy put up 25 points in 31 games for the Blazers - against 44 PIM's.  He helped balance the top two lines for them, which can prove to be extremely valuable.

At the NHL trade deadline, he saw his rights go from Phoenix to Edmonton - and the Oilers turned around and signed him.

I'm a big second-chance guy.  That being said, I'm a little concerned that Kessy could start running around and really hurt someone - which is an issue being how my favorite team is about to see him over and over for the next week-and-a-half.  I'm hoping he's taken a page out of Matt Cooke's book and has turned over a new leaf.  If he hurts the 'Hawks playing hard and scoring goals - I can live with that.

Paul Bittner

I've been thinking about a Paul Bittner post lately.  So was Paul Buker, apparently.

There's some great stuff in there about Bittner's background.  Good quotes from his family, and stories of his hometown.

Jon Bittner describes Crookston as a town of about 8,000 "five or six hours'' from Minneapolis-St. Paul, 140 miles south of Winnipeg, and 22 miles east of Grand Forks, North Dakota. He said the polka music did get the boys in trouble once at school. "One of our teachers gave us a call,'' he said, and told us, 'could you tell the boys to stop singing some of the songs they're singing? They're not appropriate.' " "There is no Beer in Heaven'' not appropriate for grade school? Who knew?

… life at Sunset High? “No one really treats me special,’’ he said. “I kind of just keep my head down, do my schoolwork, get out of there and go to the rink.’’ … he laughs, noting, “I guess there’s a rumor going around that I make a million dollars a year.’’

Well, there goes another 5 first rounders - and we hear a $200,000 number floating around sometimes...

While I like the direction Buker went, I think he missed a few things.  There's more to the controversy in MN with the kids defecting to the WHL:  Chris Peters has a great post about this issue.

The StarTrib also detailed the somewhat recent resignation of Jon Bittner from an executive board position with the coaches association last spring after his son, Paul, signed with the Portland Winterhawks of the WHL.

“I still take pride in community-based programs,” Jon Bittner said to David LaVaque of the StarTrib. “The only problem is I had one of those kids who wanted to play in the WHL.”

 As I mentioned earlier, I think the biggest part of the Bittner story is the success he's had when given the opportunity to get 1st line minutes with 1st line players.  In a 4 game span, he scored  2 goals & an assist  against Tri-City,  followed it up with a goal on New Years Eve,  had another 3 point night against Everett - capping off this stretch with the GWG against Prince George.  Game winning goals in 4 straight games, from the youngest player in the WHL.  I think that's a big story.  The last 2 games of the regular season saw #5 on the top line - and Paul potted goals in both of them.

Perhaps we should look at the video:

12/29/2012

12/31/2012

1/5/2013

1/8/2013

There was a really good Hockey Talk interview with Bittner from the 11/19/12 show -

 Bittner was also featured on the 3/25/13 edition - which was during the Everett series:

 (on a side note, that show is so much better with a hockey guy doing the interviews, but I suppose we are fortunate to have it in the first place.  should be interesting to see what next season brings).

The Winterhawks are bringing back 5 of their top 6 forwards next year, with Ty Rattie moving up to the AHL (or the Blues).  Seems like #5 fit in pretty well on the Petan / Leipsic line before - you'd think they will have a chance to shine.  Should be fun.

 

you better put two guys on #5 when he's out there

Spokane V Portland: Games 3 & 4 + series summary

Game 3:

Highlights here

Scoresheet

Game 3 fan discussion

Paul Buker piece

Spokesman-Review story

Photos

****  Game 4 ****

Highlights

Scoresheet

Real time fan discussion

Paul Buker writeup

Spokesman-Review post-mortem

Photo essay

 It seems to me that we are witnessing some pretty special times here.  Mac Carruth is now the all time WHL playoff wins leader - passing Stanley Cup Champion Cam Ward 2 games ago.  There's potentially 10 wins that can be tacked onto that record.  Most records are broken by the smallest of increments - time will tell where this one ends up.

The last 4 of those wins included a total of 3 goals.  That's probably something we won't see again - holding a team to 3 goals in a playoff series.  I think Todd said on post-game that the previous record was 8 or 9 goals against for a series - 3 goals is just nuts.  Most fans would tell you that Carruth struggled in game 1 of the series - and still put up insane numbers.

Ty Rattie sits 6 goals away from the all-time WHL playoff goals record.  When you start throwing around numbers like that, you have to look at the history of this league.  Ray Ferraro played for the Winter Hawks: winning the 1983 Memorial Cup (wearing Cooperalls). Ferraro was only good enough for the 3rd line here in Portland, putting up 90 points in 50 games.  After being shipped off to Brandon, he got loose for 108 goals the next year.  Point is, when you look at all time goal scoring numbers - dudes used to put up a lot of goals.  Rattie is a special kid, on a special run.

As far as this series, I think its pretty simple.  Spokane was a good team this year: 44-26 is a really nice record.  Don Nachbaur always has his guys playing sound defense & a team game where the sum of the parts is better than the individuals.  Nachbaur is a tough dude. That being said, when the 'Hawks are playing the way they want to play, there's not a whole hell of a lot that the other team can do about it.

Spokane V Portland: game 2

my Rose Garden seats are better than yours

show me a good player and I'll show you a supportive Mom

my seats in the Glass Palace aren't as good

post-game discussion

Paul Buker story

photo essay

Spokesman-Review story

Scoresheet

Video highlights

You don't have to be hockey guys to do a decent interview - Ron Callan should be taking notes.

Coach Green postgame

Mac Carruth postgame

Seth Jones postgame


What do you say about a 3-0 game?  The Chiefs put a lot of shots on, many of them of good quality.  There were several posts / crossbars both ways, but the 'Hawks found a way to finish - and the Chiefs didn't.

I felt that the 'Hawks played well physically - Iverson played on the edge, without going over.  Peters threw his body around, as well as de Champlain.  Carruth did a nice job of establishing his crease, and he probably got away with that one in the 1st, catching Playfair up high with his paddle.

Todd made the point in postgame that these two games were vastly different, and the 'Hawks can play whatever style you wish.  I think they are correct.

The Chiefs have held the 'Hawks to 2-for-12 on the powerplay so far, after going 79.4% on the PK during the season.  They've improved to 85.3% in the playoffs.  As has been the case, the PP looks different than the numbers reflect.  Its a good powerplay.

Its going to be interesting to see what happens in Spokane - you figure the goal is to split, which would put the 'Hawks up 3-1 - which is pretty good.

Everett V Portland - game 6 / series recap

Video highlights here

Real time discussion recap

Brendan Leipsic: player of the week!

Paul Buker's story

Photo essay

Nick Patterson's piece

Andy Kemper camreaphone shot

Mostly this series occurred as planned, aside from real strong efforts from Austin Lotz & 6 goals from Josh Winquist - combined with some defensive breakdowns & bouncing pucks on the 'Hawks behalf.

Mac Carruth ended up going 2.42 GAA / .865 SV% in the series - vastly different from the franchise record 2.06 / .929 he put up in the regular season.  You always hear goalies talk about how they like to get work - they want shots.  Not rebounds, 3rd chance plays, screens, tips, etc - but they want to feel the puck.  They want to make saves.

These are the period by period shot totals for the 'Tips:
Game 1:  9  13  9
Game 2:  3  1   7
Game 3:  4  2   7
Game 4:  7  7  9
Game 5:  9  4  5
Game 6:  8  4  1   
Out of 18 periods of hockey in this series, Carruth saw no more than 13 shots in any of them, and only 1 shot in two of them.  I already touched on this, the game winning goal in game 5 occurred in a 4 shot period, where the shot that beat him came on a clear cut, shorthanded breakaway.  That HAS to be tough on any goaltender to have that kind of workload.

Should be interesting to see how Carruth's workload settles out in the 2nd round, and how he responds.

Everett V Portland: rough stuff

The rough stuff has been really hit or miss in this series.  Seems like games 1 & 3 have been pretty calm, and games 2, 4, & 5 have had some fireworks:

Hockey fights is such a good tool - they do a bang up job.


I know that some Winterhawk fans felt that Travis Huntington's call was a little over the top at the end of game 5 - and he's been known to get excited before.  I'm cool with it.

Everett V Portland - Games 4 & 5

Video highlights from game 4.

This is the game story from the O for game 4.

Here was the live chat from game 4.

Scoresheet

Interesting Davidson quotes here.

Game 4 in pictures:

its always tough to get a skyline shot, even from a stopped car in traffic

2nd nicest ballpark I've been to (KC#1)

I met my friends at the Angry Beaver - a hockey bar in the Greenlake district of Seattle.
 This place was filling up, with everyone wanting to watch a particular NHL game. 
None of them had any idea that junior hockey exists,
with both local WHL teams engaged in really interesting series. 
Disappointing.

Cable Box.  A really nice barn.

across the street - name escapes me

great seats, great view.  spendy.

I HATE the phony Zamboni.  makes ours look pretty classy.

De Leo has fans everywhere

3,000 in a building that seats 9,000

I've always wanted one of these

I don't think I'd ever realized that they have duplicate sets of banners in there:
 The official WHL ones, and they made bigger ones on the other side of the rink. 
Seems a little cheezy to me.

seems like the 'Hawks should be selling Leipsic wigs. 
if you have a jersey, go find a wig - its a good look.

I had a good look at that cowbell that just missed a ref's head.  Only missed by about a foot or so.  Not good.

On the way out of town

  ******  GAME 5 ******

Postgame discussion here.

Video highlights

Scoresheet

Photo essay - its a real small sample size, but the puck isn't laying flat on the ice in any of those photos.  Seems like we never have good ice.

Game story

Austin Lotz given the #2 star in the entire CHL.  Of course that poses the chicken-and-egg of 'do we make the other goalie look good' OR 'does the other goalie stand on his head against us every time'

Watching the 1st goal again, it looks like Hanson goes down to block the shot, but doesn't really commit all the way, and ends up screening Carruth - pretty much a worst case.  The D man either has to block the shot, or let the goalie see it.   Winquist has 6 goals in the series, which is pretty damn good.

Rough night for Hanson part 2:  that second goal was really unfortunate.  Carruth's 5 foot pass goes off of Hanson's skate, and right into the vacated crease.  #4 ended up -2 on the night, although there were a total of 4 'Hawks who weren't minus players in this game.  I'm a big backer of Hanson, who is a smart kid.  That being said, I'm on Team Kirill and when you have good players you want to get into the lineup anyway, you might be quicker to healthy scratch a guy and get Vorborev some ice time.  Should be interesting.

The 3rd goal was a nice breakaway move by Petryk going to the backhand.  Of course that play came off a rush the other way with Rattie & Leipsic on a kind of 2 on 0 rush, where #28 had the puck, but #8 had a step on him.  Rather than take his chances, Leipsic dished to Rattie, who couldn't hold on to the pass - it was late, as they were too close in to the goalie by that point.

 That clear breakaway was part of a period where Carruth saw 4 shots.  You always hear about how a goalie wants to see shots - he wants the work.  Not 2nd and 3rd chances, not breakaways, not screens - but he wants to see shots and feel the puck.  It has to be hard to stay in the game as a goalie that's seen periods of 4, 5, 1, &, 4 shots this series.

One way for a goalie who isn't getting much work to stay sharp is to play the puck on dump ins, and we all know that the 'Hawks faithful are uncomfortable with that (see goal #2).  I wonder if we have forgot the puck handling game that Carruth had in game 3?  I watched that game online, and he was really good.  Many feel he's the best puckhandling goalie in the WHL, but I suppose its human nature to hold onto the times it goes wrong, since that's the only time it makes the stat sheet.  (Semi-related note:  how many of Burke's games this year did he only see 20 shots?  Sure seems like a majority of the time off the top of my head.)

This has been a bizarre series statistically.  The powerplay has been frustrating everyone in these losses - yet it was at 40% last night, and is at 39.3% in the series.  The 'Tips PP is at 12.5%, so the PK is pretty close to where they were in the regular season as well.  (The Thunderbirds PP is at 0.0%)

What's most interesting about game 5 is how widely peoples opinions vary.  Between postgame interviews, the regulars in the live chat, online commenters, etc - there are many interpretations of how that game went.  I read that to mean if there was any glaring concerns that the 'Hawks need to address, it would be more apparent to all.  I think they had good chances, all 3 periods.  I'm not even sure how much Lotz made a difference as much as pucks were hopping over sticks and going wide.  I don't think you want to change much if you are the 'Hawks, except for those defensive lapses that the 'Tips have capitalized on.