By Robb Fenton
It wasn’t easy, but the Lloydminster Tanroc Bobcats are moving on in the AMHL playoffs.
After making the playoffs for the first time in this franchise’s history, the ‘Cats won their first playoff series by sweeping the Sherwood Park Kings thanks to a 6-4 win Sunday afternoon at the Civic Centre.
“Everyone is excited, everyone’s sore, we definitely battled really hard, it was a war out there and we really didn’t play to our ability, but we out-competed and worked our hardest,” Bobcats veteran Chris Romanchuk said.
Through the first two games, the Bobcats were at their defensive best, allowing only two goals in a 4-1 and 6-1 win.
Once again the ‘Cats proved they could win in a number of different ways, scoring goals in every period for the win.
“It’s good, it’s going to give us a lot of time to prepare for what’s going to be a tough opponent in the next round, it’s two good teams,” Bobcats head coach Kyle Tapp said after the win. “We need the rest, we earned every game, blocking shots, taking hits so we definitely need the break.”
While it is tough to find a specific difference in the three-game sweep, Tapp said it came down to keys that are always important in the post-season – special teams and play between the pipes.
“It was simple, power play and goaltending. Connor Creech was brilliant in this series and our power play clicked. I think it was running at over 35 per cent and that’s all it was,” Tapp said. “It came down to compete and I think we competed more consistently and were willing to sacrifice more than they (Sherwood Park) were throughout the series.”
To say the Bobcats’ power play was effective would be an understatement.
In Sunday’s game alone, the ‘Cats tallied three times up a man and also added a shorthanded empty-netter. The opening goal by Ty Carey was the only goal scored at even strength for the Bobcats in Sunday’s series clinching game.
“Five-on-five most teams are going to square out evenly, so any time you can capitalize 5-on-3 or up a man, you have to and that’s how the majority of the goals are scored in the playoffs,” Tapp said.
The chemistry and teamwork that has been the reason for success all season for the Bobcats was on display once again in this series and on Sunday afternoon.
Six different goal scorers hit the scoresheet and 12 players recorded points, including two by Romanchuk, Carey, Braden Crone and Kenney Morrison.
Derek Pfisterer scored what would be the game-winner under a minute into the third period after great work down low behind the net.
“We just battled and there was no quitting with us, we came together and I think we were more of a team than they were, we were there for each other and helped each other out,” Romanchuk said. “Our big thing is getting everyone going, we can’t just have certain guys, we need everyone together going.”
The ‘Cats await the winner of Leduc and St. Albert in the other series, which is tied at one game apiece.
“It’s what we said from Day 1, we wanted to make the Mac’s and the final four and we’ve accomplished both, everything else is gravy,” Tapp said. “The little train that could keeps on chugging. The kids are excited, I’m excited and the town should be excited.”