COLUMN: Discipline will be key in Bruins vs. North Stars series

Special teams a key for both sides

If the season series is any indication, special teams can, and likely will, play a huge role, even if North Stars head coach Nate Bedford doesn’t like it.

The two clubs were handed a combined 318 penalty minutes in their four games against one another (almost 80 per game), and though it may be a cliche that playoff series can often come down to special teams, it might actually be true in this case.

What’s the best way to have an effective penalty kill?

Stay out of the box.

In the two losses against Estevan this year, the North Stars were shorthanded a combined 16 times. Estevan scored on six of those power plays (37.5 per cent).

In the two losses the Bruins suffered against Battlefords, they were shorthanded 11 times in total. The North Stars scored on six of those power plays as well (54.5 per cent).

What might be a little bit shocking is the Bruins power play overall this season was ranked seventh in the league out of 12 teams at 19.2 per cent. And in their quarter-final series against Yorkton, it only went two-for-23, or 8.7 per cent.

But Estevan had nine different players with 10 or more power play points this season, and if their low power play percentage so far these playoffs is an indication of anything, it’s probably that their power play is due.

So although the North Stars penalty killing was first in the league this season at 89.1 per cent and went 13-for-14 in the quarter-finals against Weyburn (92.9 per cent), they can’t rely on those types of incredible numbers in a seven-game series against an offence like the Bruins.

Let’s hope they can stay out of the box.

Goalitending favours Battlefords

Although Joel Gryzbowski was pulled in his first playoff game, let’s not kid ourselves: the North Stars still have the best goaltending duo in the SJHL.

The rookie never lost back-to-back games all season long. In fact, he only lost five times period all season long, while winning 21 times.

And when Taryn Kotchorek came in relief in game four against Weyburn with his team trailing 3-2, he picked up right where he left off in game three and stopped every shot he faced to ensure the sweep.

The Bruins, on the other hand, not only can’t say the same about any sort of effective duo, but not one of their goaltenders finished in the top-10 in the regular season in save percentage or goals-against-average. Gryzbowski and Kotchorek were top-three in both.

Nathan Alalouf played 29 games with a 3.05 goals-against-average and .910 save precentage, while rookie Curtis Meger played in 22 games with 3.18 goals-against-average and .905 save percentage.

Alalouf did play well in the quarters against Yorkton, starting all five games and posting a .933 save percentage, but the Delta, B.C., native doesn’t have the track record from the regular season like Gryzbowski or Kotchorek.

Bruins give up chances: lots of chances

Despite winning their division, the Bruins gave up the fifth-most shots on goal this season (34.03 per game) and were one of only three teams to allow more than 200 goals against.

In their quarter-final series against Yorkton, they gave up an average of 32.8 shots on goal per game, whereas the North Stars gave up 27.5 shots per game against Weyburn. It may only be a five shot difference per game, but that’s a solid scoring chance or two which can make all the difference in a tight playoff series.

Estevan may have riden their offence to a division title, but if they don’t do something about their defence they may be in trouble. The Bruins have had success in run-and-gun type games this year, but the North Stars won’t want any part of that. Battlefords can shut it down; can the Bruins do the same if they need to?

nathan.kanter@jpbg.ca

@NathanKanter11

by Nathan Kanter

COLUMN: Discipline will be key in Bruins vs. North Stars series

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