Kings quest begins

Times Editor

 

The Wheatland Kings concluded their most successful campaign in team history by winning four straight games to close out the regular season, including two victories this past weekend.

The local junior-b team defeated the second-place Cochrane Generals 3-2 on the road Feb. 4, before posting a 2-1 over the Blackfalds Ford Wranglers the following day at the Strathmore Family Centre.

With the pair of wins, the Kings closed out the season with a franchise best 18-17-1-2 record, good enough for third place in the South Division. 

“It was an outstanding weekend – not for the faint of heart,” laughed Kings head coach Doug Murphy. “We’re really happy – the guys are playing really well. The last two games were against real high-quality teams and we found a way to get the win in both games. It’s exactly the way you want to be playing going into the playoffs.”

The Kings entered the weekend in must-win mode, trying to avoid falling into fourth place and facing the fifth place team in a best-of-five series.

By finishing in third, the Kings earned a first-round bye and almost two weeks off before facing the Cochrane Generals in a best-of-seven series, starting Feb. 17.

“There was certainly pressure – once we stumbled (and lost) in Stettler, we knew that most likely we would have to win (the remaining games to finish third),” explained Murphy. “There was definitely a relief when the game ended Saturday night. You pretty much knew that Coaldale was going to get three wins (against the lowly Banff Bears), so if we wanted third place, we would have to win all of our games. 

“At the beginning of the year, we had two main goals; one was to finish above .500 and we wanted to finish in second or third place, so we’re happy with the way the (regular) season ended up.”

While Coaldale and High River battle in the first round, the Kings will have 11 full days of rest before their playoff series begins.

“It’s huge to get the extra week of rest,” said Murphy. “We just finished playing five games in a week’s time and they were tough games. We have guys with aches and pains … it gives us a chance to heal and get rested up.” 

If the regular season is any indication, the best-of-seven series between these two teams will be a close battle.

The Kings went 1-2-1 versus the Generals, with all but one game being separated by a single goal.

“We’re definitely going to be in a battle,” said Murphy. “Like I said before, they are a well coached team, they have a winning tradition and they know what it takes to win.

“Defensively, they control their own zone very well … and offensively, they constantly pressure you. They have three guys forechecking low and the defence aren’t afraid to pinch. We need to adapt our game like we did Friday night.

“We need to be much better in our end and we need to be moving the puck much quicker when we get it. We need to be finishing around the net.”

The Kings open the best-of-seven series on Feb. 17 when they travel to Cochrane. Game 2 is in Strathmore on Feb. 18 at the Family Centre, while Game 3 is Feb. 21 in Cochrane.

Game 4 shifts back to Strathmore on Feb. 22. Games 5-7 (if necessary) will keep alternating locations on Feb. 24, 25 and 28. All games begin at 8 p.m.