The Dragons got the jump they needed on the Olds Grizzlys stealing game one of the series last Saturday on the road.
While the results of game three on Tuesday March 3 were unavailable as of press time, the Dragons came home from game one and two on the road with a split, and have the Grizzlys feeling the heat.
“We’re coming into our home rink and hope for big crowds and lots of energy,” said assistant coach Jason Hegberg. “We’ve been preparing for this for a month now… everyone has bought in and come together, and it feels like one team.”
On Saturday, the Grizzlys and Dragons wasted no time mixing it up and Olds jumped out in front within a minute, but Ashton Reinboldt tied it up before the period was done. Colin Bergman opened the second period short handed, but Olds tied it back up two minutes later. Todd Chinova scored his first of the game at the midway mark, and Cody Rainaldi scored with 50 seconds left in the period. The Dragons never looked back.
Despite out-shooting the Dragons on paper 49-35, Jeff Young capitalized on the powerplay five minutes into the third, and with five minutes left Chinova scored his second, also on the powerplay. Final score: 6-2 Dragons.
“You don’t really expect a 6-2 victory in the playoffs, I’m sure there were a couple their goaltender wanted back,” said Hegberg. “It was probably a closer game than the score dictated, but it was pretty awesome to go in there and get the first one, because that takes the pressure off a little bit.”
It appeared the Dragons carried the momentum into game two of the series on Sunday in Olds. The Dragons were on the scoreboard first thanks to Rainaldi, assisted by Patrick Bartoshyk. Young put them up by two early in the second before Olds made a run.
“We took a 2-0 lead and they (the Grizzlys) lost their focus and roughed it up a bit and we got caught up in it,” said Hegberg. “It went against us because we took a few penalties that were undisciplined, and their powerplay stepped up and got them back in the game. We played a very good third period and had a lot of chances, it could have gone either way.”
Four unanswered goals, two of which were on the Olds’ powerplay, put the Grizzlys up 4-2 for good. Despite numerous chances in the third, the best the Dragons could hope for was a split heading home for game three.
The Dragons played game three of the series on Tuesday, March 3, (results unavailable at press time, game four is at the Drumheller Memorial Arena on Wednesday, March 4. Game time is 7:30 p.m.
Despite out-shooting the Dragons on paper 49-35, Jeff Young capitalized on the powerplay five minutes into the third, and with five minutes left Chinova scored his second, also on the powerplay. Final score: 6-2 Dragons.
“You don’t really expect a 6-2 victory in the playoffs, I’m sure there were a couple their goaltender wanted back,” said Hegberg. “It was probably a closer game than the score dictated, but it was pretty awesome to go in there and get the first one, because that takes the pressure off a little bit.”
It appeared the Dragons carried the momentum into game two of the series on Sunday in Olds. The Dragons were on the scoreboard first thanks to Rainaldi, assisted by Patrick Bartoshyk. Young put them up by two early in the second before Olds made a run.
“We took a 2-0 lead and they (the Grizzlys) lost their focus and roughed it up a bit and we got caught up in it,” said Hegberg. “It went against us because we took a few penalties that were undisciplined, and their powerplay stepped up and got them back in the game. We played a very good third period and had a lot of chances, it could have gone either way.”
Four unanswered goals, two of which were on the Olds’ powerplay, put the Grizzlys up 4-2 for good. Despite numerous chances in the third, the best the Dragons could hope for was a split heading home for game three.
The Dragons played game three of the series on Tuesday, March 3, (results unavailable at press time, game four is at the Drumheller Memorial Arena on Wednesday, March 4. Game time is 7:30 p.m.
