Last night the Cougars faced off against the Glacier Kings at home. The game for the most part was forgettable from the Cougars perspective. They didn't play the Cougars game. Even if they made it interesting at the end of the game sending it to OT for the second straight home game, ultimately losing in double OT.
The main reason I call the game forgettable doesn't really have anything to do with the fact that they lost, because they already have clinched their fourth straight league title. They played like a team that hadn't played together. Passes off the mark all night long, dangerous plays in front of their own net, and risky plays where it was one man versus the whole other team. I saw lots of one man missions last night when they had a teammate close at hand.
The goal-tending on the other hand was phenomenal on both sides. Beauchamp was the main reason the Glacier Kings only scored twice, as they many scoring chances even with their low shot count. On the other end of the ice, Michael Hails was unreal. This kid stopped 41 shots, several could easily have been goals. Several more should have been goals. Hails seemingly didn't a back-flip and somehow the puck stayed out.
Last week I was quoted by saying that I think Comox is the favorite to represent the North in the Finals, and I am standing by that. Most people are calling Campbell River the dead to rights favorite. While on paper it might look like that, with last nights win over the Cougars the Glacier Kings are in a solid place to win the North with a game against Campbell River next week. Comox only needs to make up 3 points in 4 remaining games. Two of those games are against Nanaimo who have been inconsistent at best in the last few months.
The Cougars should be able to make it out of the first round of the playoffs against Kerry Park unscathed. They went 8-0 against the Islanders this season and dominated almost every game. Peninsula and Westshore won't have the same luxury in the first round. Both teams have the ability to win, but I think it will Peninsula to come out on top. I suspect that The Storm and Glacier Kings will both leave the first round in 4 or 5 games each. Once the reseeding is done I expect we will see Victoria against Campbell River and Peninsula against Comox. Ultimately leading to a Comox/Victoria or Peninsula/Victoria final. Both would be an unreal way to end the season.
The Cougars are looking to take their 3rd straight Championship, but this is the first year where there is real competition to usurp the Champs.
The playoffs this year should be the first time in a very long time that any of 4 different teams can win it all. I am excited for it to start, are you?
