Series Tied Again

The way I put it in the Post Game Show tonight was, "the Terriers played as good as they played in Game 3, they just didn't wait until they were down 3-0 to do it."

Yorkton led 4-0 and 7-1 at one point, and beat the La Ronge Ice Wolves 7-2 in Game 4 of the SJHL Final, evening the Credit Union Cup series 2-2.

Cody Zubko scored his 9th of the playoffs 3:08 into the game, and the Terriers led 1-0 after the first period. Unlike Game 2 (3-1 loss) when the Terriers also led 1-0 after one on a Zubko goal, the Terriers kept the pedal down, scoring three more times in the second period. Adam Moar's 8th, Nathan Murray's 2nd, and Rylan McDonell's 10th of the post season increased the Terrier lead to 4-0.

Robert Monfore made things interesting with an early third period goal for La Ronge, cutting it to 4-1, but Yorkton responded with three quick ones after the Wolves got into some penalty trouble. McDonell added his second of the night at even strength, then Moar got his second, and Kelly Leismeister notched his first of the playoffs, both 5-on-3 PP goals.

Aaron Decorby rounded out the scoring for the Ice Wolves with 57 seconds left, and the final was 7-2 Terriers.

I had Yorkton 3/8 on the PP, and La Ronge 0/1. Online scoring had them 0/3, but it gave them PP's during a pair of coincendentals in the third. Bah, technology!

- Captain Cody Zubko keeps finding another level to take his game to in these playoffs. A goal and 2 assists saw him take over the team lead in points, with 9g-18a-27p in 19 games (he missed one game in the Weyburn series due to suspension).

-McDonell/Stringfellow/Struble were almost unstoppable again. McDonell has 11 playoff goals after a 9 goal regular season.

- Drew McDermott was credited with Yorkton's 6th goal, but we in the booth felt Adam Moar tipped it, we'll see if it gets changed. Moar has 4 goals in 4 games against his former team.

- No Joel Danyluk in Game 4, not even when the rout was on and it was 7-1. Is he hurt, after Game 3's game-ending "festivities?" Is Bob Beatty protecting him from rabid Terrier fans? Or, just going on a hunch with Bartko, since he was the guy that got them to the final. As long as Joel's healthy I've gotta assume he's back in there for Game 5 on Friday. But I'm just the radio guy!

- There's a line between sending a message and being dumb, and both teams have flirted with it in this series. High hits, bumping/running goalies... if it doesn't stop, something REALLY stupid's going to happen because this series is far from over.

- Yorkton gave up half as many shots on home ice as they did in La Ronge. Of course the variable when it comes to shots on goal is the guy with the finger on the button, and no question that's different from rink to rink, what's determined a shot or not. But La Ronge had single digits in shots in all 6 periods of hockey in Yorkton the last two nights, finishing with just 22 in Game 4. They had 24 in Game 3, and only 18 in regulation.

- The Terriers finally won with a little breathing room! Before tonight, their last 4 wins had been one goal games, and their last 3 wins had been in overtime, and all 4-3! Game 5 vs KIN, Game 7 vs KIN, Game 1 vs LAR.

- The Terriers leave Thursday, where they'll stay at Elk Ridge (La Ronge Hotels are full!)... Game 5 is Friday in La Ronge (7:00 / 7:30 on GX94). Game 6 is now for sure, it'll be back in Yorkton Sunday at 7:30. A fan bus is leaving the Gallagher Centre at 9:45 AM on Friday, call the Terrier Office to get your seat at 783-4077. If necessary, Game 7 would be back in La Ronge on Tuesday.