Bisons back on track

Justin Seward
Times Reporter

 

The CFR Bisons learned a valuable lesson during their games over the weekend; tighten up and limit the opposition’s chances.
The team was able to bear down and prevent the opposition from gaining extra space on the ice en route to a 3-3 tie at home versus CAC on Oct. 16 and a 4-1 win in Medicine Hat the following day.
“Today we got out of the first period with a tie and yesterday as well,” said Henry, in regards to the game in Medicine Hat. “I think that part was good and we managed to score first in both games which always helps you out even though a new problem arose where we’d score a goal, they’d score one right after.
“After that happened the first time, we talked about it and asked that if we scored a goal that in the next several shifts to be a little more solid and have more of a focus on being defensively solid versus trying to keep pushing. And that seemed to be how we were giving them up.”
The team was caught in the offensive end numerous times throughout the night while giving up odd man rushes against CAC. According to Henry, that will be need to be polished on both sides of the puck.
“Ultimately, the defensemen have some responsibility in that and also I didn’t think the back pressure from our forwards was really good,” he said. “The defensemen were kind of left to what they could and outmanned at times. They made mistakes and I think we had fewer giveaways in critical areas from the defenseman than I heard on the road trip. We’re asking them to get the puck, find that passing lane and move it quick to the first open guy.”
He added that CAC did clog up areas where the Bisons were trying to pass to players with speed and it will be something they will have to work on in practice.
“We’re learning how to play fast and play with speed, support and improve in our end a little more defensively and getting our back check solid,” said Henry.
In the 3-3 tie against CAC, Matt Halkovic, Gary Haden and Brett Trentham each tallied one while Haden, Cole Reinhardt, Zach Vinnell and Tyler Petrie scored in the 4-1 win over Medicine Hat.
The Bisons will be in Calgary for two games this weekend, starting on Oct. 24 against the Calgary Buffaloes at 3:30 p.m. and on Oct. 25 against the Calgary Royals at 2:30 p.m.