The round two matchups are evenly balanced, with Battlefords against Melfort and Humboldt against Flin Flon.
Everything was decided after an exciting 2-1 Game 7 overtime win on Tuesday night, as the Flin Flon Bombers took their series against the Estevan Bruins.
Even with three of four second-round teams already decided, everything was riding on this seventh game. Fans across the league watched to see where their hometown teams stacked up. Everyone knows how evenly balanced the matchups are; everyone has equal opportunity at the Canterra Seeds Cup.
Battlefords North Stars versus Melfort Mustangs
“That’s the big message here for us today, is to really just focus in on ourselves and just play the best game possible.”
There was more back and forth between the No. 4 and No. 5 Mustangs and La Ronge Ice Wolves. Only two points separated them during the regular season. With an 8-2 win in Game 6, Melfort outscored La Ronge 20-13 to take the series four games to two.
Looking at the North Stars’ track record for the season, Mustangs head coach Trevor Blevins knows his players will have to defend well against an offence that includes the league’s top three scorers. But the Mustangs know how to put the pressure on, with three of their five regular-season games against the North Stars going to extra time.
“We take confidence from the fact that we played them tough all season,” said Blevins. “Those were very good hockey games, and really, for the most part, I think those games could have gone either way.”
The North Stars will welcome the Mustangs to the Access Communications Centre with puck drop at 7:30 p.m.
Humboldt Broncos versus Flin Flon Bombers
The Bombers outscored the Estevan Bruins 19-13 to take their own first-round victory, but head coach Mike Reagan said it was a grind given the miles they put on to face the most southernly junior team.
While the Broncos had a week off between rounds, Reagan said his players are playoff ready; they will had two days off before facing the Broncos for a third consecutive season.
“It’s a new season, new teams. I’m sure Humboldt is looking at this as it’s their turn, and for us, we want to keep having the success that we’ve had against them. As a team, we’re confident in our ability, but we respect how good a team Humboldt has.”
Harmon Laser-Hume has been a consistent presence between the pipes with 2,568 minutes and 44 games in the Bombers net during the regular season, and so far, all seven playoff games.
Facing one of the top goalies in the league, Broncos head coach Scott Barney knows Laser-Hume will be a challenge for his offence but they will be focused on generating that traffic in front of the net.
The Broncos will face off against the Bombers at the Elgar Petersen Arena on Friday with puck drop at 7:30 p.m.
Melfort Mustangs versus Battlefords North Stars
Regular Season
Sept. 28 — Battlefords 2, Melfort 0
Sept. 30 — Battlefords 5, Melfort 4 (OT)
Oct. 14 — Melfort 2, Battlefords 1 (shootout)
Dec. 3 — Battlefords 5, Melfort 4 (shootout)
Feb. 4 — Battlefords 6, Melfort 4
Goals — Battlefords 19, Melfort 14
Shots on Goal — Battlefords 168, Melfort 159
Humboldt Broncos versus Flin Flon Bombers
Regular Season
Oct. 2 — Humboldt 2, Flin Flon 1 (OT)
Nov. 20 — Flin Flon 4, Humboldt 1
Jan. 6 — Flin Flon 6, Humboldt 2
Jan. 7 — Humboldt 2, Flin Flon 0
Jan. 12 — Humboldt 5, Flin Flon 2
Mar. 1 — Humboldt 3, Flin Flon 2 (shootout)
Goals — Humboldt 15, Flin Flon 15
Shots on Goal — Flin Flon 187, Humboldt 183
Post a Comment