On paper it looks like the Chilliwack Chiefs job gets easier as they enter the third round of the BCHL playoffs.
After eliminating the 68 point Langley Rivermen in round one, the Chiefs dispatched the regular season’s top team, the Wenatchee Wild in round two.
It can’t get tougher now can it?
I think it can and does.
The Chiefs will face the Island division champion Victoria Grizzlies in round three beginning tonight (Friday) at Prospera Centre.
The Grizzlies are a very good team that finished the regular season with 83 points, five fewer than the Chiefs and 11 fewer than the Wild.
While the Wild were the better team over 58 regular season games, I think the Grizzlies will provide a much tougher test for the Chiefs and it all begins in goal.
The Grizzlies were the league’s third stingiest team during the regular season, allowing 143 goals. The biggest reason for that success was the play of goaltender Matthew Galajda.
In his second BCHL season Galajda finished top five in wins (25) minutes played (2,263), shutouts (three), goals- against average (2.33) and save percentage (.923).
He’s taken it up a notch in the playoffs where he leads in each of those categories with 779 minutes played, two shutouts, a GAA of 1.85 and a SP of .943.
During the first two rounds, the Chiefs did not see goaltending like that, at least not from their opposition.
They did however see it in their own crease.
During the regular season Chiefs goaltender Mark Sinclair also finished in the top five in wins (33, a new team record), minutes played (2,615), and GAA (2.59).
During the playoffs he’s been the Chiefs most valuable player logging every minute in goal (603) and putting up a GAA of 2.09 and a SP of .927.
Once this series is done, we may be able to say one goaltender had a better series than the other but going in it’s too close to call and it should be incredible to watch.
When it comes to offense, the Chiefs hold the edge.
During the regular season the Chiefs outscored Victoria 243-218.
During the playoffs the Chiefs have averaged 3.6 goals per game to the Grizzlies 2.5.
The Chiefs placed two players in the top 10 in regular season scoring.
Jordan Kawaguchi finished second with 85 points while Kohen Olischefski placed sixth with 76 points.
The Grizzlies top scorer, Cole Pickup, ranked 14th with 65.
Kawaguchi (15 points) and Pickup (14 points) lead their teams in scoring through the first two rounds of the playoffs.
One thing the Grizzlies do have that the Wild did not is grit.
Look no further than forward Keyvan Mokhtari. If Chiefs fans don’t know him now they will soon. He’s the Grizzlies version of Chiefs forward Linden Hora with both playing whatever style it takes to win.
I expect this series to be close.
I’ll take the Chiefs in six.
jb@chilliwackchiefs.net