Game Day! Wear White!

"hockey cliché hockey cliché hockey cliché hockey cliché hockey cliché"  Hiller says. 

Just kidding.  Not really.  I haven't read the whole internet yet, but I bet I can guess what I'll find:

• "We need to play better"
• "We have to stay focused"
• "Drew's been our guy but Alex has played well"
• "Veteran leadership needs to step up"

I bet I'm close with those guesses.  Let's go dig for links.

"I think we have to exhale," said Tri-City coach Jim Hiller. "We came in (to Pengrowth Saddledome) and they held serve. I thought they played really well and we didn't get done what we wanted to get done. We are going to have to adjust it and put this behind us -- as much as we'd like to change it we can't -- and really, really focus on the first period starting (tonight). It will be an exciting time for our team and our fans. We are going to have to put all of our energy directed at being good."

"We have to get into it early, get the first one early and get our crowd into it," said Tri-City forward Johnny Lazo, who has the only goal for the Americans in the series. "It can be an intimidating place to play when our fans are loud and proud. We definitely have to be better on the power play. As one of the older guys on the power play, (I) know we have to do a better job. We'll figure stuff out."

"I think at this stage, he (Owsley) has a lot of experience and is technically sound," Hiller said. "He has to be confident, get out of crease and be big. It's easier said than done."

"Alex came in and played really well, but Drew has been really good all year," said Hiller, who said he'd name his starter today.

"We are glad to be home," Hiller said. "We worked on a couple of things, but at this stage of the game you just have to stay sharp."  (Tri-City Herald)

Look at that, I was pretty darn accurate.

Yesterday's Tri-City Herald had a bit on Joel Broda, today's Calgary Herald has a piece on our own Kruise Reddick:

"It was definitely a disappointing day (2008 Entry Draft), heartbreaking, but I had to move on and keep proving people wrong," he said, prior to tonight's ( 8 p.m., Shaw TV, FAN 960) third game in the best-of-seven Western Hockey League championship series against the Calgary Hitmen.

"The draft would have been great, but . . . I guess everything happened for a reason, so maybe it was for the best."

"He's one of those guys as a coach you just love," says Tri-City coach Jim Hiller. "He's the guy you don't have to worry about office. He leads in the right direction and when the puck is dropped, either for practice or for a game, he's always setting the bar for work ethic.

"You mix in his great skill set, he skates well, sees the ice and has a terrific release on the shot. To me, he's that all-in-one hockey player you love to have on your team. Bottom line is he's a winner."

"I think I tried to put a little more pressure on myself, which is maybe a good thing," he confessed, "but you can't change your game. You have to stick to the things that have been working your whole life.

"Right now, I'm just worried about this series, about the team and what I can do to help it, capturing the WHL championship and if something good comes out of that, it's great."  (Calgary Herald)

Awww Kruise MF Reddick.  Would love to see some of his awesomeness shine tonight.

It appears it's in the Calgary game plan to get the home crowd out of it as early as they can, we can't let that happen people!

“Our start will be huge,” said MacKenzie, who is leading Hitmen defenceman in post-season tallies with six goals and 10 assists in 20 playoff games. “I think we’ll need to take their crowd out of it early. Maybe get a big start or a quick goal that’ll take the crowd out of it. We just have to stay on them the whole game, we can’t let up at all. (Tri-City) is really fast but at the same time, it’s something we’ve dealt with these whole playoffs.  (Calgary Herald)

Drinnan reports the Americans will not be without Shinny:

F Brendan Shinnimin of the Tri-City Americans will be in the lineup Tuesday night for Game 3 of the WHL final in Kennewick, Wash. The Calgary Hitmen carry a 2-0 lead into that game. . . . Shinnimin was ejected in the second period of Game 2 on Saturday for a hit from behind on Calgary F Joel Broda. Shinnimin was hit with a major and game misconduct on the play.  (Taking Note)

Speaking of Shinny, his mug is featured on Yahoo!'s story about NHL '11 from EA Sports will include all 60 CHL teams.

It's game day.  Let's get a big and rowdy crowd in the Toyota Center.  Remember to wear white for the "white-out" effect!  It'll look cooler than those orange/red seats. 

I believe.