Bisons push Buffs to brink of elimination

Justin Seward
Times Reporter

 

The UFA Bisons are one win away from advancing to the AMHL Finals, after taking a stranglehold 2-0 series lead over the Calgary Buffaloes.
The local triple-A midget team thrashed the top-ranked Buffs 9-1 in Game 1 on March 8, before squeaking out a 4-3 win in Game 2 on home ice on March 10.
The Bisons were able to escape early-game penalty trouble and dominate the Buffs with their physicality to open the series.
“(The start) wasn’t ideal because we took a lot of penalties in the first period, so it was hard to get some momentum,” said Bisons assistant coach Dave Attwood. “We stuck with it and got some goals, that was good, and some big saves from our goalie and that allowed us to hang in there until the second period and we kept at it and things eventually went our way.”
Attwood believed the team listened to the coaches’ message in between periods to start the onslaught of goals and not allow the Buffs to continue their push
“Our big message in between periods was to stay out of the box, but at the same time whenever the Buffs had a power play chance, our penalty kill was very good, we didn’t give them a lot,” said Attwood. “Then they had a couple of power plays in the second where the game was still close and our goaltender made some big saves for us. We had everybody doing their job on every line and everything mattered to everybody.”
Captain Shane Fraser thought the physical tone that was set really wore on the Buffs speedy players.
“Once we started playing physical with them I think it slowed them down, they really didn’t know what to do after that,” said Fraser. “They got some real quick guys there so we just got to keep it up.”
He felt that the whole team played hard and put a lot of pressure on the Buffaloes.
“We just came at them with all four lines, it didn’t matter who was the on the ice, it seemed like we had sustained pressure throughout most of the game,” said Fraser.
“It was a full team effort and that’s what helped us out today.”
Jordon McConnell, Kyle Gordon, Will Conley led the way with two-goal performances, while Fraser, Trygve Many Guns and Zachary Cox each supplied singles.
Meanwhile, Game 2 at the Strathmore Family Centre was a completely different scenario on March 10.
The Buffaloes aggressive attack earned them a 3-2 lead before the Bisons scored two quick goals in the third period en route to the 4-3 win.
“We figured it would be a hard game (after we) embarrassed them last game. Every game we’ve had with them this year besides Game 1 was a one-goal game, including tonight,” said Bisons assistant coach Doug Raycroft. “It’s a bigger rink here and they’re a really good team. We just really had to be on them quick.”
Raycroft thought one of the biggest factors in the win was the Bisons ability to move the puck quickly up the ice.
“We wanted to move the puck quick – in parts of the game we did and other parts we weren’t as good as we wanted to be,” said Raycroft. “Luckily, in the third we got a couple of big goals.”
The Bisons at times gave the Buffaloes too much space, but were able bridge the gap and limit what their players could do.
“You try to hit them as much as you can. We stayed out of the penalty box and played good defense … it’s hard against a good team,” said Raycroft. “In the third period, we came out hard. I thought we outworked them.”
Kyle Gordon led the way offensively with two while Trygve Many Guns and Gary Haden added one each.
Game 3 is slated to take place on March 14 at South Fish Creek Recreation Centre in Calgary (6:45 p.m.). Game 4, if necessary, will be back in Strathmore on March 15 (7:30 p.m.).