Bisons burn Flames, Royals up next

Justin Seward
Times Reporter

 

If you ask any of the UFA Bisons after Game 1 of their series with the Calgary Flames, a lot of them would say they were very fortunate to come out with that win.
The Herd were able to gut out a character 3-2 win, and all the offense came in a three minute span in the third period on Feb. 19 at the Strathmore Family Centre.
The Flames built a 2-0 lead on the nervous Bisons, but at the 15 minute mark of the third period, Will Conley got the crowd jumping when he scored on a breakaway out of the penalty box; then it was all Bisons from there.
They were able to complete the comeback in a three-minute span.
Head coach Dan MacDonald was enthused with the hard work the team showed despite the slow start.
“I think it was just a lot of nerves, we didn’t play the way we could, but once we overcame those then we really got going and we scored,” said MacDonald. “We were fortunate in a way but we got to give credit to the players for never giving up.”
There were a lot of players that had taken a good portion of the game to adjust to a playoff atmosphere but settled in once they did.
“When we scored that first goal then everybody released the tension that they had and said that we can do this and we got better as they game wore on,” said MacDonald. “We’re all learning how to play in real tough situations and lucky in a lot of ways to battle through the first game.”
Gary Haden added a pair to seal the win.
In the clinching game, the Bisons were able to built momentum off the first game on route to a 5-3 win over the Flames in Calgary on Feb. 21.
“The biggest thing, it was a real team win. I don’t think our guys were as nervous, they knew what to expect and everyone went out and did a very good job from top to bottom,” said MacDonald. “We were good and there wasn’t a player there that didn’t work very hard and that’s what one of our strengths is that we work very hard and we did that.”
Barrett Sheen scored two, while Conley, Kyle Gordon and Davis Sheldon added singles in the win.
Round 2 will see the Bisons play the Calgary Royals beginning Feb. 26 in Calgary (7:15 p.m.) at Stu Peppard Arena.
MacDonald knows that a hard work ethic, staying disciplined and moving the puck will play a key role in their success.
“We certainly match up good with them,” said MacDonald. “It’s just a matter of their strengths, they have four or five guys in the Top 20, have a goalie that has one of the best save percentages in the league. We have to get to the net, and we’re going to have to stop them from getting to the net.”
Game 2 of the best-of-five series is slated for Feb. 28 (2:30 p.m.) at the Strathmore Family Centre. Game 3 will be March 1 (7:15 p.m.) in Calgary, while Game 4 (if necessary) is March 3 back in Strathmore (7:15 p.m.).
Game 5 (if necessary) would be March 5 in Calgary (7:15 p.m.).