Bisons on the ropes

Justin Seward
Times Reporter

 

The CFR Bisons find themselves in unfamiliar territory this postseason as the Lloydminster Bobcats beat them 10-0 in Game 1 on March 18 and 5-0 in Game 2 the following day to a take a commanding 2-0 series lead in the Alberta Midget Hockey League (AMHL) Final.
Bisons head coach Sandy Henry said in Game 2 they came out with a much better effort and felt they outplayed the Bobcats at times. However, they couldn’t get the puck to go past goalie Austin McGrath.
In both games the Bobcats capitalized on the first shift of the game. Henry said they’re a hard team to play against when they get a lead and if the Bisons were to have any hope in coming back they needed to keep the games a little closer.
“It didn’t work out like that,” said Henry. “Every time we made a mistake, it went in the net. We made too many mistakes in the first period and in the first game. I thought we cut them down and really cut them down in the second game. They took real good advantage of their opportunities, got that early goal and that 5-on-3 goal, which is going to happen.”
Additionally, the adjustments that had to be made in between games were tightening up in their defensive zone, because the players were guilty of watching the puck on the back check and not focusing on their guys away from the puck.
“I think we talked about all zones for sure,” said Henry. “I think we changed our special teams a little bit. It helped for sure, but it didn’t get us all the way yet.”
The goal will be to build off of the effort in Game 2 and the Bisons are hopeful they can use the big home ice to their advantage.
Game 3 was played March 24 in Strathmore (result not available as of press time) and if there is a Game 4, that will be played in Strathmore on March 25 (5:15 p.m.).
Game 5, if necessary, will go in Lloydminster on March 27 at 2 p.m.