Series Comes To Kindersley - Game 3 Notes

The always pivotal game number three, a must win for the Kindersley Klippers

Down 2-0 is certainly a big hole to climb out of, but the fact that the Klippers have not yet lost at home in this series means they still have a good chance.

As a matter of fact the Klippers have not yet lost on home ice in these playoffs and on home soil this season they have almost been unstoppable sporting a 21-5-3 record.

Another positive working for the Klippers heading into tonight's game is they have not lost three games in a row since Rockie Zinger has taken over as coach. Also at the WCEC this season the Klippers have won 2 out of 3 against the Terriers, with the lone loss coming way back on October 20th in overtime.

I am throwing all these stats out to let people know this series is far from over, at the same time though just because the Klippers are coming back home, does not mean they are just going to take game 3.

Alot needs to change for the Klippers to be successful tonight.

# 1 - The Klippers need to score the first goal and that all starts with a great shift right off the hop. The Klippers were simply brutal out the gate in games one and two and Yorkton took it to them early striking first in both games. Being back at home the Klipper players should be able to prepare better for the game.

# 2 - Their special teams simply need to be better. Their powerplay in game 2 was 0-9, not having Calkins certainly affected the powerplay but at the same time this team has enough skill to execute a successful powerplay. In terms of the PK, they need to be better also. Yorkton got its powerplay going in a big way in game number two scoring 3 powerplay play markers. All kinds of skill on the Terriers powerplay but they need to figure out a way to stop it. Getting Jordon Hoffman potentially back tonight should be a huge boost to the pk.

# 3 - Someone needs to step up. Someone on this team needs to grab the bull by the horn and set the tempo for this hockey club to get the entire team going. The perfect person to do this is Andrew Dommett, just like he did in game two of the Weyburn series. Dommett set the tempo early making a big hit and then scoring the opening goal of that hockey game.


A few other game notes :

- The Klippers will be without rookie dman David Haaf who was suspended for one game for his fighting instigator in game 2. This was David's 3rd instigator this year which in the new SJHL supplement rule results in a suspension. This is a pretty big loss to the Klippers back end as David Haaf has been steady and a solid shutdown man for the Klippers.

- For Yorkton I don't see any lineup changes. Trent Cassan stuck with the same lineup from game 1 to game 2 and he mentioned to me in the pre game interview he doesn't plan on interrupting a winning formula. Unless Struble is suddenly ready to go, or a injury occurred in game two I don't see anything changing

- Who gets the start in net for Kindersley? Will it be Sean Cahill or Justin McDonald. After game two my natural instinct was to start J Mac in game three after he came in on relief duty and played very solid. But after some time thinking things over if I was Rockie Zinger I'd go with Sean Cahill. Sean is an exceptional goaltender who had a tough weekend. We have seen Sean as a goaltender this season who can be lights out, and coming back home I think he can get his confidence back up. If the Klippers score first then this also pushes a huge relief off of Cahills shoulder and will help him ease into the game.

- A few other Kindersley notes, Riley Down will serve game two of his two game suspension tonight for his hit to the head in game one. Johnny Calkins and Jordon Hoffman are both game time decisions but I expect both of them to go tonight. It's a must win situation and I know both players will leave it all on the ice in order for their team to win a hockey game.

Overall Yorkton has been outstanding in this years playoffs and have yet to loose winning 6 in a row. For the Klippers to win, they need to get a complete team effort.
If I find anything out about the lineup I will pass it along, but to be honest I don't see Rockie letting anything out until close to puck drop, but stay tuned.

Catch the webcast with play by play action at 715 if you can't attend the game. If you can, make it over to the WCEC and get behind this team. A rocking crowd will certainly help this hockey club get out to a good start.