"Like a dog on a bone"

Wow.  What a game, eh?

I said they could do it, and sure enough, they did.  Yes, it's only one game.  Yes, they're still in a hole in the series.  But not as deep a hole as this time yesterday.  One game at a time.

The Americans were all over the place, like Westy says, they were like a dog on a bone.  And Calgary just looked tired.  They expended so much energy the first three games I guess.  Finally the Americans' speed and skill could be used effectively.  It helps to not be playing from behind as well.  

The crowd was amazing last night.  It may not have been a sell-out, but that place was LOUD.

During the game I was already planning on putting in today's post how awesome a game Mike Brown had.  Turns out I wasn't alone in this thinking as he was given 3rd star.  I told Spokant and hubby before the game that Mike Brown would be the difference.  We all had a good laugh, turns out I was right (ok, lucky).  Speaking of stars, I thought Mason MF Wilgosh could have easily received a star, he was everywhere, doing everything--as usual.  Schmidt had another excellent game, as did Zach Yuen.  Justin Feser and Kruise Reddick were outstanding as well.  They played very well, worked hard, and got the win they deserved.

"From a fan's perspective, that was probably the most entertaining game of the series," said Tri-City coach Jim Hiller. "A lot of people got to see what our goalie's like and see us score some goals. Obviously the key point in the game was getting the first goal. Good goaltending and timely goals, that's our recipe; that's how we win games."

"I thought it was a good hockey game, entertaining end to end," said Calgary coach Mike Williamson. "Tri-City definitely worked hard. We had a lot of chances; we just need to bear down in front of the net. (Pechurskiy) played well. Both goalies played well and both teams had lots of chances."

"That's what the team's about, everyone's got to chip in," Wilgosh said. "The puck came up top and I went to the net hard and got the rebound. It's nice to have everyone contribute."

"(Pechurskiy) was excellent," Hiller said. "He made good saves when we need them. Calgary is a good team and we needed big saves and big goals. You can't have one without the other. It's been awhile since we had that combination working for us."  (Tri-City Herald)

Speaking of the crowd:

The teams are out on the ice for warm-ups. Looking around the stands, I think people thought the call for a whiteout was for Tuesday only. Though, when there was a call for a whiteout against Spokane in Game 7 of the Western Conference finals two years ago, the Americans lost. Maybe it should be a sea of blue or red. Hmm. (Red Light District)

If they want something like a whiteout to catch on, it should be from game 1 of series 1 of the playoffs.  And find a sponsor to hand out white t-shirts to the first 1000 fans or something.

There's apparently a need by some to blame the refs (instead of admitting they were out played):

Yet, this 4-2 loss could just as easily have turned into a rout by the Hitmen during the second period. In what was probably their most dominant 16 minutes of the post season, the Eastern champs let go with 22 shots at Alex Pechurskiy and got diddly.

Granted, the Russian goalie saw every one of them but he still had to make some big saves. Just the confidence boost he needed and then, just like that, the Hitmen are on the penalty kill in a game in which it seemed like the stripes were going to let everything outside of a blatant infraction go.

There were countless offences, mostly cross-checking and interference and tripping, that probably should have been called. And, not meaning to sound like a homer, but the Ams got away with a lot of stuff in that second period when they were literally holding on for dear life.  (Hitmen Insider)

Guess what, you sound like a homer.

“I thought it was a really good hockey game, entertaining, end-to-end . . . probably a little more end-to-end than we would have liked,” said Calgary coach Mike Williamson, “but Tri-City definitely worked hard.

“We had lots of chances and just needed to bear down in front of the net and do a better job of making it tough for him (Pechurskiy) to see the puck, but he played well."  (Calgary Herald)

Alex was very good last night, he had a ton of help in front of him too, which was fantastic to see.  Calgary blasted him with 22 shots in the 2nd period alone, with nothing to show for it.

Brian Burke's Toronto Maple Leafs may have truculence (or not), but this Americans team has tenacity and heart.  And sometimes, it's will over skill (though they have the skill too).

The have a big mountain ahead of them, but if they can keep plugging away at it, they just might be rewarded yet again.  Go get 'em boys, we believe!