The Score – Medicine Hat 1 – Kootenay 3
What Happened – Cody Eakin has now hit his playoff stride, and the Tigers are paying the price.
The Turning Point – After a scary 20 minute delay with Czerwonka on the ice, with the score tied at one, the lull continued on the ice with both teams a little groggy. That changed when Eakin poked a loose puck out of Theriau’s skates. His goal lifted the building and the Ice. The Tigers deflated.
The Goals – In the first, on a power play that was going particularly nowhere, Elgin Pearce picked up the puck and rushed into the Tiger zone. Wacey Hamilton tripped him at the blueline and gave the home side an early 5-on-3. After throwing it around some, Cody Eakin spotted Max Reinhart for a nice deflection on the slap-pass past Bunz to give the Ice a 1-0 lead… Jesse Ismond’s elbowing penalty at the end of the first period cost him to start the second as Emerson Etem took a bounce off the end wall and beat an outstretched Lieuwen to tie it at one… In the second with the game slowed to a crawl due to the delays, Ismond got the puck off up the neutral zone wall and sent a dump in towards Tiger D Alex Theriau who fumbled it between his skates. Like a flash Eakin dashed in, poked the puck around him and slipped it between Bunz’ legs for a 2-1 lead… On a rush 3:35 into the third, Eakin left a drop pass ten feet inside the Tiger blueline for Ismond. He drove a blast past Bunz for a 3-1 lead.
Mr. Everything – Eakin just makes things happen. Killing a penalty late in the game he skated the puck out of the zone, zigged and zagged and then shot the puck down the ice. In a foot race with Tiger goaltender Tyler Bunz, Bunz won it but send the puck into the crowd for the delay-of-game. Want another one? In the second with the Tigers on a long 2-on-1 Eakin skated the length of the ice to catch Wacey Hamilton just as he shot. Lieuwen made a great save but Eakin’s speed was something to behold. He’s worth the price of admission alone.
Lewww – After fighting off a cold in game one Nathan Lieuwen has been spectacular, especially on this night. He stopped 22 of 23 shots and stymied the Tigers at almost every turn. With the fans serenading them to end the game the Tigers had one last gasp 2-on-1. Lieuwen stoned Hunter Shinkaruk to keep the score 3-1 in the dying seconds.
The Delay – With 1:46 left in the first the glass partition in the north end of the Plex came loose. After a short delay, a wipe-out by the rink guy, a short ladder that wasn’t tall enough, he borrowed Nathan Lieuwen’s stick to try and fix the entanglement with the netting. That didn’t work either so a taller ladder was brought out. We were wondering when they were going to ask Nathan, at 6’7” on skates, to help out. Why the stripes didn’t call the period and tack it onto the second is beyond me. Sucked the life out of the building.
The Gang(s) – The Blue Guy Group was there again, as boisterous as ever, but this time the Leotard Gang topped them; by including a trio of females, all in full body leotards…. Some signs in the crowd – Hey (Cranbrook product) Jace Coyle, you’re #4. You’re Sister’s #1…The Blue Guy Group, sitting directly behind the Tiger bench, must’ve been causing some ruckus. A call for security was made over the PA to the Tigers bench. The security guy was there, about six seats to their right. Maybe he didn’t hear it because he didn’t do anything.
The Scare – Drew Czerwonka tried to hit a Tiger defender behind their net but at the last minute he moved and Czerwonka appeared to step on his stick and went head first into the end boards. He lay prone on the ice, but moving his extremities, for over 20 minutes with medical personnel attending to him. After cutting off his jersey and putting him in C-Spine, an ambulance crew took him off the ice in a stretcher. Czerwonka gave the thumbs-up as he left the ice. An update later by team staff indicated he would be okay, if a little sore.
The Crowd – 2972 – Fighting the Habs-Bruins, the Canucks-Hawks and the game live on TV. Wednesday’s crowd could be a litmus test.
Rec Plex Three Stars
1. C Cody Eakin – He’s getting better, if that’s possible.
2. C Max Reinhart – Great deflection to open the scoring
3. D Joe Leach – Solid on the back-end
Honourable Mention – Nathan Lieuwen – He’s taking his game to another level.
What it means – Kootenay has the Tigers on the ropes and can gain a berth in their first WHL Championship final in nine years with a win Wednesday night.
Up Next: Game Four goes Wednesday night at the ‘Plex. Gametime is 7PM.
Summary:
Kootenay leads best-of-seven series 3-0
Tigers 1 @ Ice 3
CRANBROOK, B.C. - Western Hockey League summary for playoff game between the Medicine Hat Tigers and the Kootenay Ice, April 26, 2011
Cody Eakin scored a goal and potted two assists as the Kootenay Ice defeated the Medicine Hat
Tigers 3-1 to take a commanding 3-0 lead in the WHL Eastern Conference final Tuesday night.
Max Reinhart opened the scoring in the first with the Ice on the power play when he re-directed Eakin's slap-pass from the point. The Tigers tied it up in the second with a power play goal of their own when Emerson Etem got his 10th of the post-season when he tucked in a end-board rebound past Nathan Lieuwen.
Eakin scored the eventual game-winner with his 6th of the playoffs at 14:08 of the second when he poked the puck past the Tiger defender and then past Tyler Bunz for a 2-1 lead.
Jesse Ismond rifled his second of the playoffs in the third for the insurance to make the final 3-1.
Nathan Lieuwen stopped 22 of 23 shots for the win while Tyler Bunz stopped 32 of 35 shots in taking the loss.
The Ice now lead the series 3-0. Game Four goes Wednesday in Cranbrook.
First Period
1. Kootenay, Reinhart 8 (Eakin, King) 6:33 (pp)
Penalties -- King Ktn (tripping) 1:00, Carr MH (holding) 4:55, Hamilton MH (tripping) 5:36, Fraser Ktn Kessy MH (unsportsmanlike conduct) 10:43, Ismond Ktn (unsportsmanlike conduct) 13:11, Tochkin MH (interference) 14:07, Ismond Ktn (elbowing) 19:43.
Second Period
2. Medicine Hat, Etem 10 (Vey, Coyle) 1:13 (pp)
3. Kootenay, Eakin 6 (Ismond, McNabb) 14:08
Penalties -- Eakin Ktn Carr MH (roughing) 4:20, Kessy MH (goaltender interference) 10:24, Konan MH (hooking) 18:50,
Third Period
4. Kootenay, Ismond 2 (Eakin, Leach) 3:35
Penalties -- Hamilton MH (interference) 8:46, Reinhart Ktn (tripping) 16:00, Bunz MH (delay-of-game - served by Shinkaruk) 16:49.
Shots on goal by
Kootenay: 14 11 10 - 35
Medicine Hat: 9 5 9 - 23
Goal -- Kootenay: Nathan Lieuwen (W, 11-2) ; Medicine Hat: Tyler Bunz (L, 4-5).
Power Plays -- (goals-chances)
Kootenay: 1-7
Medicine Hat: 1-4
Referee -- Matt Kirk, Steve Papp. Linesman -- Jeff Jobson, Scott Sharun.
Attendance -- 2972 (4264)
Scratches --
Kootenay: Steele Boomer, Brock Montgomery (mono), John Neibrandt (healthy).
Medicine Hat: Dawson McCauley, Cole Grbavac (game two of two-game suspension), Tyler Pitlick (broken ankle - day-to-day), Spenser Jensen (healthy).
Summary courtesy Jeff Bromley of the Cranbrook Daily Townsman
4 comments:
The attendance at last night's game, although it was a loud and rowdy crowd, was disappointing yet again. I don't know what it will take for this town to get behind this team. There is a problem when you can't manage to get at least 3000 people to a third round playoff game; a game where your team enters up 2-0. I've heard many might have stayed home to watch the Canucks/Blackhawks game. In my opinion that is not a good enough excuse. I am an avid Bruins fan and have been since long before the ICE ever came here. I am a diehard Bruins fan and wear my Bruins jersey underneath my ICE jersey when both teams play the same day. I have never missed an ICE game to stay home and watch a Bruins game. Game 7 between the Bruins and the Habs is tonight. I will be taping it while I am at the Plex cheering on the ICE. So, the Canucks series is over; what excuse might there be tonight? What else does this team have to do to garner some support? I have been taping the games on Shaw so I can see what is said between periods. A comment was made about our empty seats and why we don't support our team more. Way to go Cranbrook. We didn't exactly show Western Canada our team spirit now, did we? So how about we get moving and buy some tickets for tonight's game. I don't know what else to say. My arm's getting pretty sore from beating the same dead horse. I guess it comes down to, do we want this team or do we not. Maybe its time everyone looks in the mirror and asks themselves that question. I and the other faithful 2500 or so who never miss a game have already answered that question. How about it Cranbrook. Do we have it in us to do this? I think we do. So lets rock the Plex tonight. Please pass the word; get those tickets. This is OUR team after all, is it not? Here's our chance to prove it. See you all at the Plex tonight. GO ICE GO!
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I'll agree to a point that it's a little disapointing that the crowd wasn't any bigger last night given the competition on the tube.
But after hearing comments on the broadcast and various chat boards I find it hard to believe that people who don't live don't understand why it's a tough crowd to get on a Tuesday. Yes, it's playoffs and the Conference finals etc but there are roadblocks.
Small community; 30,000 area population. Nobody ever critiques Swift Current. If the Broncos were in this no one would say boo that the crowds were 2500 or so. Moose Jaw has a new arena to fill. Call me in 3-5 years when they're drawing almost exactly what the Ice do, in a bigger market no doubt.
Shift workers; Just at my place of employment (about 160 workers) there were 20-25 fans caught on shift. Throw in the 2000-2500 workers on-shift at the mines and pulp mill and there's probably another 150-200 there.
Cost; It's an issue for some. Some can only afford one of the two games, some not at all. It's just a fact of life.
There's more I'm going to address in a column this weekend or so but drawing 3000 to a game in our community still isn't bad. And it was still loud. Do we want more? Sure. But all we can do is keep trying, like yourself, convincing people to go.
Cant agree more with Jeff on the attendance issues, we are getting 10% plus per capita at the games, i would match that with any sports team on the planet. Is there 2 million at MSG for the Rangers, how bout Vancouver, 3 or 4 hundred thousand , dont think so,it is what it is. And 10% is pretty darn good for the size of town and economy, it would be nice to have a full building, never know when we will have another run like this, so lets just have fun and enjoy the ride
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