SUNDAY - GRIZZ Vs OILERS STATS CENTRAL, RECENT PLAYOFF HISTORY & A SPECIAL EDITION OF "IN THIS BLOGGERS OPINION"

ROUND TWO DIVISION SEMIFINAL SERIES

STATS CENTRAL

OLDS GRIZZLYS (3) Vs. OKOTOKS OILERS (2)

REGULAR SEASON STATISTICS

RECORDS
Olds - 35 - 23 - 1 - 3 -- 74pts (3rd in South, 7th in AJHL)
Okos - 39 - 19 - 2 - 2 -- 82pts (2nd in South, 5th in AJHL)

GOALS FOR
Olds - 225 (2nd in South, 5th in AJHL)
Okos - 257 (1st in South, 2nd in AJHL)

GOALS AGAINST
Olds - 189 (4th in South, 9th in AJHL)
Okos - 187 (3rd in South, tied for 6th in AJHL)


LAST PLAYOFF ROUND

Olds def Drumheller in 5 Games
Okos def Canmore in 3 Games

GOALS FOR
Olds - 23 in 5 games (4.6 per game)
Okos - 14 in 3 games (4.7 per game)

GOALS AGAINST
Olds - 16 in 5 games (3.2 per game)
Okos - 6 in 3 games (2 per game)

LAST ROUND SPECIAL TEAMS
Olds Power Play - 7 for 39 = 17.9%
Olds Penalty Kill - 21 for 25 = 84%

Okos Power Play - 4 for 16 = 25%
Okos Penalty Kill - 19 for 19 = 100%

SEASON SERIES STATS BETWEEN OLDS AND OKOTOKS

RECORDS Vs EACH OTHER IN 2008-09
Olds - 5-1-0-0
Okos - 1-4-0 -1

SEASON SERIES GOALS FOR
Olds - 21
Okos - 14

SEASON SERIES SHOTS ON NET
Olds - 173
Okos - 176

POWER PLAY CONVERSION Vs EACH OTHER
Olds - 5 for 32 = 15.6%
Okos - 1 for 34 = 2.9%

TOP POINT PRODUCERS IN SEASON SERIES
OLDS
Jordan Kwas - 4G - 3A - 7PTS

Curtis deBruyn - 2G - 5A - 7PTS

Mitch Maxwell - 2G - 5A - 7PTS

Brance Orban - 2G - 4A - 6PTS

Several Tied at 3PTS

OKOTOKS
Rodger Craig - 3G - 1A - 4PTS

Kyle Reynolds - 3G - 1A - 4PTS

Cody Dion - 2G - 2A - 4PTS

Justin Daigle - 1G - 2A - 3PTS

Jeff Barrett - 0G - 3A - 3PTS

GOALIE STATS Vs EACH OTHER
OLDS
Marc Boulanger - 146 Saves on 159 Shots = .918 SV% (6 Starts)
Brayden Hopfe - 16 Saves on 17 Shots = .941 SV% (1 Relief App.)

OKOTOKS
Steve Papciak - 79 Saves on 90 Shots = .877 SV% (4 Starts, 1 Relief App.)
Sean Cahill - 73 Saves on 83 Shots = 890 SV% (2 Starts)
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RECENT PLAYOFF HISTORY

OLDS
The 2nd Round on the AJHL's post-season has not been kind to the Olds Grizzlys. Last year Olds was eliminated in 6 games by the Camrose Kodiaks in Round Two - while in 2006-2007 the Grizzly post-season run also came to an end in Round Two, this time in 5 games to the Camrose Kodiaks.

OKOTOKS
The Okotoks Oilers were also eliminated in the 2nd Round of last year's post-season. The Oilers fell in 5 games to the Drumheller Dragons. In 2006-2007 Okotoks advanced to the 3rd round before being eliminated by the Fort Saskatchewan Traders in 5 games.
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IN THIS BLOGGERS OPINION - TEAM ASSESSMENT

OLDS
Tried, tested and true - in this Bloggers Opinion there's nothing that gets a team ready for a playoff run than a first round series that goes the distance. Having to face possible elimination, especially in a game 5 or game 7 scenario, and living to face the next round - changes a team's mentality. Truth be told there is no switch to flip in a players mind that would instantly prepare them and get them to the level of intensity, drive and determination required once playoffs start - it's a crescendo to that point. Grit and Sand Paper - The Grizzlys have plenty of it, and will need it. Physical yet disciplined play will be key against the Oilers.

OKOTOKS
Well rested? The Oilers will try to refute my previous point about playoff hockey. The Oilers breezed past the Canmore Eagles without much of a challenge in their first series. The Eagles were the worst team statistically to enter the playoffs - let's be honest, they weren't a good hockey club before they shipped off the likes of Hudson and Odegard . . .let alone without them. Now the Oilers will have to truly get ready for post-season hockey and a series that could easily go the distance. Okotoks had the best offense in the South Division during the regular season - look for them to pepper shots from every angle to try to beat Boulanger.