Game 7 (Or Game 15) / Trebish Through Year 1

Of course, in playoff terms, tonight's (TUE) matchup is a Game 7... but dating back to the regular season... yes, you could also call it Game 15. It's the 15th time the Highway 10 rivals have met, and the Best-of-15 series is tied 7-7. Isn't that even more fun than calling it Game 7?

It just goes to show that's how close these two have played each other, not just this series, but ALL SEASON.

The stat that really floors me is that home ice has been anything but an advantage. In the playoffs, the home team is (2-4), while in the 14 meetings all season, home teams are (6-8). Both teams were (2-2) at home in the regular season and (1-2) in the series. So, the Terriers go into Melville for an 8th and final time, knowing they're (4-3) at the Stadium since October. Can they go (5-3) and steal a game in Melville for a third straight time in the playoffs? Stats are in Yorkton's favour... the law of averages are not. One would think a team like Melville, who was so dominant at home all season couldn't lose yet another game at the Vault, but the Terriers aren't bothered one bit playing in the ol' barn.

How 'bout another regular season tid-bit which has meant sweet tweet in this series. Record when leading after two periods. In each of the last three games, the team TRAILING after 40 minutes has gone on to win. The Terriers turned the trick in overtime in Games 4 and 5, while the Mils forced Game 7 with a come-from-behind effort in Game 6. When leading after 2 periods in the regular season, the Millionaires were a PERFECT (28-0). Yorkton then came back on them in back-to-back games and went from trailing the series 2-1 to leading it 3-2. The Terriers, who as mentioned also blew a third period lead (albeit just 1-0), were a very impressive (20-1-0-2) in those situations in the regular season.

Since coming into the series partway through Game 4, Terrier goalie Joel Danyluk's got a record of 2-1, a 1.15 GAA and a .959%. That's pretty outstanding.

Heroes are born in the playoffs. Melville's Michael Jordan is tied for the team-lead with 5 points in 6 games (3g/2a). His biggest was obviously the goal with 1:48 left in Game 6 to give the Mils a 2-1 lead, which they hung onto. With some of Melville's top guns being held off the scoresheet, their depth players have really stepped up. Regular season leading scorer Daniel Hope has yet to score in the series, while Kale Dolinski's found the net once. Matt Kinnunen's also without a goal, while other notables like Aaron Decorby, Shane Stanicky, Logan Herauf and Tyler Murray all sit with one goal.

The Terriers are waiting for some 2nd and 3rd liners to chip in. Of the Terriers' 15 goals in the series, 9 have been by their first line (Derek Serdachny- 6, Bryan Hull- 3). Corey Silverson (2OT Game 4) and Rylan McDonnell are the only other forwards to have found the net. Defensemen Greg Coburn, Kirk Byczynski, Shawn Shackleton and Derek Derkach have the others. Kevin Stringfellow, Jordan Zalba, Clarke Breitkreuz, Jordan Menke, Torey Stott, Evan Neibrandt, Cody Zubko and Nick Dietrich all have yet to score post season goals, while Stott, Neibrandt, Zubko and Dietrich have also been held pointless.

One of these two teams will graduate a solid batch of 20 year olds after tonight's match.

Yorkton
Derek Serdachny (F)
Corey Silverson (F)
Bryan Hull (F)
Travis Coghill (F)
Jordan Zalba (F)
Greg Coburn (D)
Kirk Byczynski (D)
Derek Derkach (D)
Justin Giesbrecht (D)

Melville
Kale Dolinski (F)
Daniel Hope (F)
Levi Lind (F)
Kelly Friesen (F)
Tyler Murray (F)
Shane Stanicky (F)
Curtis Beech (D)
Jeremie Houde (D)
Casey Dion (D)
Travis Bosch (G)

So there ya go... something to chew on for your game day. I'm thinking there'll be 1500+ at the Stadium tonight. There were 1361 for Game 5, and slightly more than that in Yorkton for Game 6. Bring your radios, we'll have the Pre Game Show at 7:15, Play by Play at 7:30. We'll be joined by former Terrier defenseman and Yorkton product Michael Trebish (interview is below) in the first intermission, and also have another Queen Street Plumbing & Heating Millionaires 100 Years of Memories Feature in the 2nd Intermission with Brian Propp.