SNAPSHOTS: GAME TWO VS BRONCOS
During Game 1 on Thursday, Swift Current found their sweet spot on the ice. It was the slot in front of Hitmen goalie Chris Driedger, and they scored three goals from that area.
It was a weakness that needed to be closed, and the Hitmen did a great job of keeping the puck to the outside during Friday’s 3-1 win, taking a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.
“We did a better job,” said head coach Mike Williamson. “Chris was good about directing pucks to the outside and I thought we did a better job of picking guys up, the late waves, but we still gave up a little too much.
It made for an easier night on Driedger, who saw 40 shots on net from the Broncos.
“Our D-men were keeping them on the outside, they were shutting down the top guys like (Adam) Lowry,” Driedger said, who was five minutes away from his first career WHL playoff shutout when Lowry scored on the powerplay.
One example of the team defending the middle better came late in the game with Swift Current pressing for the late comeback.
“They had the one chance late in the third where they had a guy wide open in the slot and we had guy diving out in front and they didn’t even get a shot off,” Driedger noted. “That was great to see, and plays like that were helping us out a lot.”
It was an improved performance for the 18-year-old Ottawa Senators’ prospect. Despite playing well, he allowed five goals the night before.
“I was seeing pucks a little bit better but it’s all apart of a series,” he said. “I’m trying to be consistent and I’ll build off this performance.”
SNAPSHOTS
It’s a small sample size, but the Hitmen have spent twice as much time on the penalty kill compared to the Broncos. Through two games, Calgary has dealt with nine man advantage opportunites, killing off six of them. Compare that to Swift Current, who are three for four on the penalty kill. Williamson waved off the idea after the game though, saying his team just might need to start moving their feet a little more in the offensive zone to create more powerplay chances.
The second period was the best 20 minutes of play for the Hitmen, and it showed on the scoreboard. In their first five shots on net, two made it past Broncos goalie Eetu Laurikainen.
It was good to see Victor Rask notch his first WHL playoff goal. He was injured during last postseason, and the team wouldn’t be where they are now without the Swedish import.
THREE STARS
1. Chris Driedger ~ 39 saves, a few of the highlight reel variety, and a near-shutout.
2. Cody Sylvester ~ He didn’t end up on the scoresheet the night before, but more than made up for it with the opening goal as well as the shot that led to the second tally.
3. Victor Rask ~ Another point-a-game player for the Hitmen, he ended the night with a goal and a helper.
GOAL OF THE GAME
Greg Chase had the right combination of luck and skill for the second goal of the game. Sylvester slapped the puck from the top of the circle about a foot off the ground, and Chase was able to get his stick in the perfect spot to tip it top corner on Laurikainen.
SAVE OF THE GAME
Early on in the game with the Broncos pressing, Driedger made one save on Coda Gordon and followed it up by turning away back-to-back rebounds from Graham Black in close.
ROSTER NOTES
No changes for the Hitmen, with rookies Josh Thrower, Colby Harmsworth, Chase Lang, Austin Calladine and Ben Thomas all watching from the press box.
