Well first off it was quite the game at the WCEC last night. The Klippers, did their part in the hunt for first place but couldn't get the help they needed from Estevan. Estevan had a 5-2 lead that was squandered in the third period to Yorkton. Yorkton somehow managed to claw back, tie the game up with 44 seconds left in regulation, and then win it in overtime with get this, only two seconds left to play in the extra frame.
So their you have it, the Kindersley Klippers will finish 2nd place in the Sherwood standings and are still awaiting their opponent come March 4th. Will it be Estevan or Weyburn? Klipper fans who would you rather see the Klippers take on in the first round? I will get to my opinion sometime this week on who I think the Klippers match up better against. Both teams have played 56 games, two left a piece with 60 points each. Weyburn currently sits ahead due to an extra win.
A quick recap from the game and a few game notes.
The Klippers got off to a slow start in the first period and trailed 2-0 after twenty. They clawed their way back to make it 2-2 and seemed like all momentum was in their favor when they got a powerplay late in the second period, but the Mustangs would make the Klippers powerplay pay and would come back the other way on a 2 on 1 and score their 2nd short handed marker of the game. More on the Klippers pp in a bit.
After forty minutes though you have to think the Klippers had some extra motivation as I am sure they were told that Yorkton was at the time trailing to Estevan. The Klippers played a pretty solid third period and at about the mid way point they had thought they had tied the game when Andrew Dommett shoveled one in past Ehnisz. It certainly should of been a good goal, but the referee Chad Willams lost sight of the puck and blew it dead before Dommett put it in the back of the net.
The Klippers would get a late powerplay and were unable to capitalize, but with a minute 12 left in the hockey game Johnny Calkins spotted a streaking Braeden Adamyk, placed a picture perfect pass on the tape, and Adamyk went in alone and slide it five hole with a dirty little deke for his second of the game.
With only 19 seconds left in the game Jesse Mireau went crazy, losing his cool with Calkins in the corner. He originally took a two minute interference penalty but after that he took his helmet off as he was being escorted to the bench challenging Calkins to a fight. Not sure exactly what had Mireau so steamed but he was a guy they could of used in overtime and in the shootout.
Klippers in overtime had back to back powerplays 4 on 3. The 2nd being a full 2 minutes. The Klippers had some chacnes but overall their powerplay was very ineffective as it had been all game long going 0-9. Their PP simply needs to better heading into the playoffs. I'm not sure exactly what their powerplay problem is of late, but it seems to be hit or miss. Either its working or it isnt, but they will need to find consistency on the powerplay come playoff time.
So overtime would solve nothing and a shootout was needed. The Klippers had only been in one shootout all season long, so I had made my picks on the broadcast. I went with Duzan, Adamyk and Dommett to shoot, but I was completely off with what Rockie went with. Rockie went with Calkins, S.King, and Braaten. Good thing he was the one making the picks and not me as, King and Braaten would score. Calkins on the other hand likely should have scored but we give him a ton of props for his move that he tried. Calkins came in did the ol Pavel Bure drop to his skate back to the stick and then a spin o rama to boot, had Ehnisz completely fooled, but after the spin o rama Calkins slide it off the goal post. It was a great effort and had the crowd buzzing. None the less Braaten would score the winner and the Klippers would win the shootout.
So like I mentioned Klippers did their part but couldn't get the help they needed and will finish 2nd place in the Sherwood. Still a good character building victory but I am sure a tough pill to swallow for some of the players. It will be interesting to see what kind of lineup the Klippers go with for their home and home to wrap the season against Battlefords.
Here is head coach Rockie Zinger.... He starts out talking about his team battling back after the adversity of the disallowed goal...
Rockie Zinger SO Win Over Melfort
What a hockey game that was last night! To bad there weren't more fans out to see it but hopefully they are saving themselves for the playoffs. A strong push by the fans might be all this team needs to go the distance.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of the game, outside of the terrific hockey, the ugly side of the game was out in full force in the form of Darrell "King Kong" Mann. I'm not sure who this guy thinks he is but he should take a long look in the mirror today and ask himself if he's proud of the fact he roughed up a 19 year old player from his own team last night! There is no room for guys like you in this game Mr. Mann so why not do the honorable thing and step down as head coach and bouncer for the Melfort Mustangs! And for anyone that thinks his actions were acceptable last night, you should look in the same mirror. As a hockey parent I was disgusted with what I saw!
To Anonymous...
ReplyDeleteI was at the game behind both benches and the ref told Mann that if he didnt get his player off the bench and away from Kindersleys bench the player would be suspended...I commend Mann for getting his player off the bench without further incident...maybe as a hockey parent you should make the players accountable. Mann saved one of his players a possible suspension that could of went into the playoffs.