Bisons fall to Chiefs in Round 2

Times Reporter  

 

UFA Bisons @ 

Red Deer Optimist Chiefs

Game 1, Feb. 26

With the game tied up until three minutes remaining in the third period, Bisons goals from Joshua Bishop and Clay Murray, the Chiefs scored and took game one away, by a score of 3-2. Garrett Mason made 46 saves, but could not handle Red Deer’s offense.

“They’re a very good team,” Bisons coach Dan MacDonald said. “We had three or four chances right at the very end, and their goalie held the fork for them. We could’ve tied that game. We just didn’t. The kids are working as hard as they can, and we’re up against a tough team.”

 

Red Deer Optimist Chiefs @ 

UFA Bisons

Game 2, Feb. 28

Even with a 35 shot effort, the Bisons could not get their offense going. Red Deer, however, scored shorthanded, on the powerplay, and added an empty netter. The Bisons were shut out, 4-0.

“I thought their goalie was really good, he just played outstanding. We had some really good chances, but we didn’t score,” MacDonald said.

Tensions boiled over between the two benches, as there were triple the amount of penalties in game one of the series.

“The two games we played them in the regular season we didn’t win, and then we lose the first two. They can have a lock on your psyche, you might say, that you just can’t beat these guys,” MacDonald said.

 

UFA Bisons @ 

Red Deer Optimist Chiefs

Game 3, March 2

In a do-or-die, best-of-five situation, the Bisons’ Chad Harrison opened up the scoring five minutes into the game. Matt Forchuk added a powerplay marker (and had two assists), while Mason McCarty had the eventual game winner half way through the third – and two assists as well. 

“I thought that we moved the puck better and went to the net better. Both those two kids played really well, Forchuk and McCarty,” MacDonald said.

Brayden Biccum added the insurance with five minutes remaining. Though the Bisons only managed 21 shots, Carter Seminuk stopped 45 for the 4-2 win.

“He’s very good,” MacDonald said. “The team played well too, but you always have to have that good goaltending to get anywhere in the playoffs, and he’s certainly providing it.”

MacDonald feels confident going into game four, saying the team is finding their offensive rhythm – and their way to the crease.

“We really put guys at the net this time,” he said. “It was a big deal with that adjustment.”

 

Red Deer Optimist Chiefs @ 

UFA Bisons

Game 4, March 4

Despite putting forth a solid effort, the UFA Bisons offence dried up against the first place Red Deer Chiefs.

The Bisons managed just three goals in three losses, including a 3-1 defeat in Game 4 at the Strathmore Family Centre.

“You know, we just couldn’t generate any offence – that’s just a credit to that team,” said MacDonald. “They’re a little bigger and a little stronger than we are – it’s not that they try harder. Our guys tried hard too. They have a little more depth in that department of size and speed. We made a couple of errors and the next thing you know it’s in the net. We would have had to play a perfect game.”

After the Chiefs took a 1-0 lead, Connor Boyd tied the game for the Bisons heading into the first intermission. Red Deer took control of the game with a pair of late second period goals en route to the win.

“They played to keep the lead … they outmanned us, they had a little more depth than us, so it was a 3-1 game and a 3-1 series,” said MacDonald.