Textbook Buttkicking

Seth Jones (Portland Winterhawks)

Everything that the Portland Winterhawks did wrong in game 1 of their WHL finals with the Edmonton Oil Kings, they did right in game 2 leading to a very dominating 3-0 win to tie their series at 1-1. This was a textbook case of how to kick a team's butt in a playoff game.

Pick something from the number of shots that the Portland defense allowed to reach their goalie Mac Carruth (16 total but just 2 in the 3rd period) to so frustrating the Oil Kings that the Oil Kings took 7 penalties which kept their offense sitting on the bench. Michael St. Croix played what had to be the worst game I had seen him play in the 2 years he has been a New York Ranger prospect.

A frustrated St. Croix was so upset over a non-call during the 1st period that he committed a turnover that led to a Winterhawk breakaway which forced a teammate to take a penalty. St. Croix would have been better off if he had been a non-factor but he was also called for "diving" in the 2nd period which was a first (and it was the right call too).

I wish I could tell you how he did in the 3rd period but he and his teammates were so swarmed over by the Winterhawks it was sad to watch. Give all the credit to Portland here as they did everything right and Edmonton did everything wrong.

Perhaps the only thing Portland did wrong was failing to do real damage on their 7 power plays as they only scored on 1 of them. If they had gotten their power play working this would have been an even worse beating for Edmonton.

Just as Edmonton had Portland talking to themselves after Portland lost game 1, now it is Edmonton talking to themselves after game 2. For Edmonton they have until Tuesday to figure out how to solve Portland but unlike Portland they will have the hometown media picking apart every flaw the team now has.

This series is far from over.

In the QMJHL, the Halifax Mooseheads have a 2-0 series lead over the Baie-Comeau Drakkar after a 4-3 win in game 2 of the QMJHL finals. Don't let the score fool you as this game wasn't as close as the score makes it look.

The Mooseheads chased Drakkar starting goalie Philipeppe Cadorette after 2 periods scoring 4 goals on 20 shots. Cadorette has been almost unbeatable until this series posting a 1.69 goals against but has given up 7 goals in the 2 losses.

Samuel Noreau was scoreless on 2 shots with a roughing minor as the Drakkar head home for game's 3 and 4 starting on Tuesday.