2008 WHL Playoffs Second Round Preview

Calgary, AB — The quest for Western Hockey League supremacy and an opportunity to compete in the 2008 MasterCard Memorial Cup tournament in Kitchener, Ontario, continues as the second round of the 2008 WHL playoffs kicks off on Friday, April 4th.
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rHere’s a look at the Conference Semi-Final match-ups:
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rMNP WHL EASTERN CONFERENCE SEMI-FINALS
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rCalgary Hitmen vs Swift Current Broncos
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r2007-08 head-to-head record:
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rCalgary: 3-1-0-0, 6pts
rSwift Current: 1-2-0-1, 3pts
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r2008 Playoffs top scorers:
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rCalgary:
rT.J. Galiardi 6gp-2g-11a-13pts
rKyle Bortis 6gp-4g-4a-8pts
rBrandon Kozun 6gp- 4g-4a-8pts
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rSwift Current:
rLevi Nelson 6gp-3g-5a-8pts
rDale Weise 6gp-3g-4a-7pts
rJustin Dowling 6gp-4g-2a-6pts
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rThe Calgary Hitmen and the Swift Current Broncos meet up in the WHL playoffs for the first time since the 2001-02 season. Ian White and the Broncos defeated Tyler Beechey and the Hitmen four games to three in the opening round of the 2002 post-season.
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rThe Hitmen advanced to the second round of the WHL playoffs for the fourth consecutive season after defeating the Moose Jaw Warriors four games to two in the opening round. The line of T.J. Galiardi, Kyle Bortis and Brandon Kozun produced 10 goals and 29 points, and were a combined +15 versus Moose Jaw. Calgary’s defense will need to be vigilant in shutting down a skilled and speedy Broncos’ offense. Goaltender Dan Spence will need to improve upon the .896 save percentage he posted in the opening round versus the Warriors. Calgary won both visits to Swift Current during the regular season.
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rThe Broncos advance to the second round of the playoffs for the first time since 2002 after ousting the East Division champion Regina Pats in six games. The Broncos boasted six players who scored three or more goals in the first round versus Regina, and did not have a single player with a negative +/- rating. The Broncos allowed 18 goals versus the Pats, with 12 of those goals coming on Regina power play chances. Swift Current’s defense will need to be sharp versus a very deep Hitmen attack. Goaltender Travis Yonkman posted a .921 save-percentage and a shutout in three appearances versus Calgary this season, and has shown an ability to make the big save when called upon.
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rSeries Schedule
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r#1 – Calgary @ Swift Current; Friday, April 4 (7:30pm)
r#2 – Calgary @ Swift Current; Saturday April 5 (7:30pm)
r#3 – Swift Current @ Calgary; Tuesday April 8 (7:00pm)
r#4 – Swift Current @ Calgary; TBD
r#5 – Swift Current @ Calgary; TBD If Necessary
r#6 – Calgary @ Swift Current; TBD If Necessary
r#7 – Swift Current @ Calgary; TBD If Necessary
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rLethbridge Hurricanes vs Kootenay ICE
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r2007-08 head-to-head record:
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rLethbridge: 1-5-0-0, 2pts
rKootenay: 5-1-0-0, 10pts
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r2008 Playoffs top scorers:
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rLethbridge:
rZach Boychuk 6gp-5g-3a-8pts
rMitch Fadden 6gp-2g-6a-8pts
rLuca Sbisa 6gp-3g-4a-7pts
rKootenay:
rDustin Sylvester 5gp-2g-7a-9pts
rBen Maxwell 5gp-4g-2a-6pts
rSteve DaSilva 5gp-3g-2a-5pts
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rThe Lethbridge Hurricanes and the Kootenay Ice are set to meet up for the first-ever WHL playoff series between the teams.
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rThe Hurricanes defeated the Brandon Wheat Kings four games to two in the opening round to advance to the second round of the playoffs for the first time since winning the WHL championship in 1997. The Hurricanes’ penalty killing unit was solid versus the Wheat Kings, killing off 18 of 21 shorthanded situations while allowing only one power play goal in three games on home ice. More secondary scoring will help the ‘Canes, as only eight different players managed to score in the opening round. Luca Sbisa, Ben Wright, and the rest of the ‘Canes defense corps will have to shut down red-hot Ice forward Dustin Sylvester. All five of Lethbridge’s defeats to Kootenay during the regular season were decided by one goal.
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rThe Ice advance to the second round of the playoffs for the first time since the 2005 season after eliminating the defending WHL Champion Medicine Hat Tigers in five games in the opening round. Steve DaSilva recorded four goals and seven points in four regular-season meetings versus Lethbridge this season, including both goals in the most recent meeting – a 2-1 victory in Cranbrook on March 12th. The Ice are 3-0 on the road so far in the 2008 post-season. Goaltender Kris Lazaruk has posted a sparkling .935 save-percentage in five playoff games this year. Lazaruk and the Ice defense will need to find a way to slow down Zach Boychuk, who found the net in five of six games for the ‘Canes in the opening round.
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rSeries Schedule
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r#1 – Kootenay @ Lethbridge; Friday, April 4 (7:00pm)
r#2 – Kootenay @ Lethbridge; Saturday, April 5 (7:00pm)
r#3 – Lethbridge @ Kootenay; Tuesday, April 8 (7:00pm)
r#4 – Lethbridge @ Kootenay; Wednesday, April 9 (7:00pm)
r#5 – Kootenay @ Lethbridge; Friday, April 11 (7:00pm) If Necessary
r#6 – Lethbridge @ Kootenay; Sunday, April 13 (6:00pm) If Necessary
r#7 – Kootenay @ Lethbridge; Wednesday, April 16 (7:00pm) If Necessary
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rKAL TIRE WHL WESTERN CONFERENCE SEMI-FINALS
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rTri-City Americans vs Seattle Thunderbirds
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r2007-08 head-to-head record:
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rTri-City: 5-3-1-0, 11pts
rSeattle: 4-4-1-0, 9pts
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r2008 Playoffs top scorers:
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rTri-City:
rColton Yellow Horn 4gp-2g-6a-8pts
rShaun Vey 4gp-1g-6a-7pts
rJason Reese 4gp-2g-3a-5pts
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rSeattle:
rIan McKenzie 7gp-4g-6a-10pts
rThomas Hickey 7gp-1g-9a-10pts
rBud Holloway 7gp-4g-4a-8pts
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rThe Tri-City Americans and Seattle Thunderbirds meet up in the playoff for the second time in as many seasons. Aaron Gagnon and the T-Birds defeated Carey Price and the Americans four games to two in the first round of the 2007 playoffs.
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rThe Americans swept the Kamloops Blazers four games to none in the opening round to advance to the second round of the post-season for the first time since the 2003-04 season. The Ams had little difficulty in dispatching the Blazers in the opening round, outscoring them 20-7 and outshooting them 156-107 in the four-game sweep. The Ams showed their offensive depth in the opening round as 13 different players scored over the four games. Tri-City’s defense will need to be strong versus T-Birds’ forwards Ian McKenzie, Greg Scott, Bud Holloway and David Richard, who combined for 17 goals in the first round. Goaltender Chet Pickard has won 50 of 68 games he’s played during the 2007-08 season, counting his four playoff victories.
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rThe Thunderbirds defeated the Kelowna Rockets four games to three in a hard-fought opening-round battle to advance to the second round of the playoffs for the second consecutive season. T-Birds defenseman Thomas Hickey leads all WHL rearguards in post-season scoring, and has racked up five goals and 21 points in 25 career playoff games. Greg Scott and Bud Holloway combined for 13 goals and 21 points the season series versus Tri-City, and will need to carry over that strong offensive play into their second-round series if they are to beat Ams’ red-hot netminder Chet Pickard. Seattle won one of four visits to Kennewick this season – a 3-1 triumph over the Ams on January 27th.
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rSeries Schedule
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r#1 – Seattle @ Tri-City; Friday, April 4 (7:05pm)
r#2 – Seattle @ Tri-City; Saturday, April 5 (7:05pm)
r#3 – Tri-City @ Seattle; Tuesday, April 8 (7:05pm)
r#4 – Tri-City @ Seattle; Wednesday, April 9 (7:05pm)
r#5 – Seattle @ Tri-City; Friday, April 11 (7:05pm) If Necessary
r#6 – Tri-City @ Seattle; Saturday, April 12 (7:05pm) If Necessary
r#7 – Seattle @ Tri-City; Tuesday, April 15 (7:05pm) If Necessary
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rSpokane Chiefs vs Vancouver Giants
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r2007-08 head-to-head record:
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rSpokane: 1-0-0-1, 3pts
rVancouver: 1-1-0-0, 2pts
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r2008 Playoffs top scorers:
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rSpokane:
rDrayson Bowman 4gp-3g-2a-5pts
rOndrej Roman 4gp-3g-2a-5pts
rMitch Wahl 4gp-2g-3a-5pts
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rVancouver:
rMichal Repik 4gp-4g-3a-7pts
rSpencer Machacek 4gp-3g-1a-4pts
rCasey Pierro-Zabotel 4gp-1g-3a-4pts
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rThe Spokane Chiefs and the Vancouver Giants meet up for their first ever playoff series.
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rThe Chiefs swept the Everett Silvertips four games to none in their opening-round series to move on to the second round of the WHL playoffs for the first time since the 2002-03 season. Spokane was dominant in their opening-round series versus the ‘Tips, outscoring them 16-6 and outshooting them 147-114. Dustin Tokarski led all goaltenders with a .947 save percentage in the opening round of the post-season. However, Tokarski hasn’t faced the Giants since October 2006 as Kevin Armstrong was in goal for both meetings versus Vancouver during the 2007-08 regular season. Chris Bruton scored two of the Chiefs’ three goals in two meetings versus the Giants this season. A key factor for Spokane will be trying to match the Giants’ physical play.
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rThe Giants advanced to the second round of the playoffs for the third straight season after sweeping the Chilliwack Bruins four games to none in the first round. Although they swept the Bruins in the opening round, each game was close with all four decided by one goal. Michal Repik, the 2007 playoff scoring leader, has been the Giants’ biggest threat in the 2008 post-season, figuring in on seven of the team’s 11 goals while picking up at least one point in each of the four games versus the Bruins. The Giants owned the stingiest defense in the WHL during the regular season, but will be tested by a speedy and skilled Chiefs offense. Tyson Sexsmith was solid in the opening round versus the Bruins, allowing only seven goals on 118 shots while posting a .944 save percentage. Vancouver scored only one goal in open play in two games versus the Chiefs this season.
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rSeries Schedule
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r#1 – Vancouver @ Spokane; Friday, April 4 (7:00pm)
r#2 – Vancouver @ Spokane; Sunday, April 6 (6:00pm)
r#3 – Spokane @ Vancouver; Wednesday, April 9 (7:00pm)
r#4 – Spokane @ Vancouver; Friday, April 11 (7:30pm)
r#5 – Spokane @ Vancouver; Saturday, April 12 (7:00pm) If Necessary
r#6 – Vancouver @ Spokane; Monday, April 14 (7:00pm) If Necessary
r#7 – Vancouver @ Spokane; Tuesday, April 15 (7:00pm) If Necessary
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