Bisons face adversity

Mario Prusina  

Times Editor 

 

The UFA Bisons have their backs against the wall in their best-of-five second round series versus the Red Deer Chiefs.

Despite being outscored 14-5 in the first three games of the series, the local triple-A midget team trails the series 2-1, with Game 4 on home ice at the Strathmore Family Centre on March 6 (result not available as of press time).

However, there are no second chances, as the Bisons must play perfect hockey to extend their season.

“We need to simplify our game and come with a better approach,” said Bisons head coach Jeremy Friesen. “It’s a five game playoff series for a reason – I don’t care if they outscore us 52-10 and we win the series three games to two. It doesn’t really matter, you have to be the better team three (different games).”

Here is a breakdown of the first three games of the series.

 

Game 1 – UFA Bisons vs Red Deer Chiefs 

Feb. 26 @ Red Deer Arena

Facing arguably the best team in the Alberta Midget Hockey League is obviously a big task for the UFA Bisons. 

However, facing that impressive team and ‘brutal officiating’ in the same game is definitely overwhelming.

The UFA Bisons had a parade to the penalty box to open the series in Red Deer, and the Chiefs made them pay en route to a 6-1 Bisons loss.

Despite falling 1-0 in the first period, the local triple-A midget team managed to even the score at 1-1 when Tristian Thompson converted a feed from Matt Forchuk and Markson Bechtold.

However, mere seconds later, the Chiefs scored the eventual game winner and added four more goals thereafter en route to the win.

“We took some penalties and that’s something we talked about, we need to stay five-on-five,” said Friesen. “It’s not so much taking penalties and going on the penalty kill as it is taking momentum from our team. We want to keep four lines involved in the game … if we’re killing penalties all the time, there are some guys that don’t get on the ice very often. It’s hard to keep them all in the game.

“A lot of their goals were off the rush in transition and we need to take that away from them as well. (So) we need more discipline and get more pucks on the net.

“At the end of they day, they were the much better team.”

 

Game 2 – Red Deer Chiefs vs UFA Bisons March 1 @ Strathmore Family Centre

Goaltender Richard Palmer played the game of his life and forward Kurt Fraser ensured that it was a win.

The UFA Bisons netminder made 42 saves and Fraser supplied the heroics with a double overtime marker, giving the UFA Bisons a 2-1 win on home ice.

After exchanging goals early in the first period, the goaltenders stole the show, before Fraser converted a feed from Mark McLeod and Connor Tudor.

“I was trying to (shoot on net) and hoping the goalie would kick it out to Tudor there to pop in the rebound, but I guess it snuck by,” grinned Fraser after the win. “It was pretty exciting – it is (my) greatest hockey moment so far.”

The same could be said for Palmer, who made numerous great saves to preserve the win.

“We knew we couldn’t lose or we’d be down two-zero,” said Palmer. “The team was playing great … but they had a lot of shots and it got me into the game. I didn’t have a chance to think or worry or anything. 

“I’d say this is probably my highlight reel game, I’ve never felt so good about a game as this one.”

Palmer said Colby Chartier’s first period tally, when he converted a pass from Mark Nerland and Mackenzie Bauer, really sparked the Bisons and changed the complexion of the game.

“In this game, they never had the lead on us and I don’t think they’re used to that,” analyzed Palmer. “That put them off their game.”

According to Friesen, the Bisons made the right adjustments heading into Game 2, by putting pressure in the neutral zone and changing things up in the defensive zone.

However, there was something that really stuck out for Friesen. 

“I don’t think we had one single passenger today,” said the coach. “Everybody was fully invested in the game and knew the magnitude of what we were trying to do.

“You don’t want to go down 2-0 back into their barn – (we) wanted to play well and gain some confidence.”

 

Game 3 – UFA Bisons vs Red Deer Chiefs March 4 @ Red Deer Arena

Despite carrying the all momentum after a huge home win, the UFA Bisons gave back all the positive energy to the Red Deer Chiefs in Game 3.

The Bisons allowed three first period goals and two more in the second frame before registering their first marker, en route to a 7-2 loss to the Chiefs.

“We came out a little bit flat and disengaged mentally,” said Friesen. “We gave up seven goals, all of them five-on-five and that just tells you that mentally, we weren’t prepared. We talk about all the time how the small things turn out to be big things and that was definitely the case. From me, all the way down to the players, we have to be a lot better.

“They were the better team, yes – but we gave them everything they got. Every goal they scored was a breakdown by us. They wanted it more and they were more hungry.”