Dave Leaderhouse
Special to the Herald
A change in the Prairie Junior Hockey League playoff format has the Prince Albert Timberjaks with their backs against the wall.
Prior to this season the top 10 teams, despite which division they played in, qualified for the post-season. The change this year has the top five teams in each division moving on to the playoffs meaning there is no cross-over and after Friday’s 6-3 setback to the Martensville Chiefs at the Northern Regional Rec Centre the Timberjaks are on the outside looking in even though they have a better record than two teams that have qualified in the Bill Johnston Division.
“It’s must win for us,” admitted Timberjaks’ head coach Stef Corfmat. “We have eight games left so we have work to do. You have to score more than three goals to win a game though.”
Friday’s loss leaves the Timberjaks two points back of the Carrot River Outback Thunder for the final Bob Dybvig Division berth with Prince Albert holding two games in hand. That deficit remained at two points thanks to the Saskatoon Westleys outscoring the Thunder 7-4 on Friday.
Prince Albert was behind the entire game on Friday although they did have things on even terms at 2-2 early in the middle frame before the Chiefs pulled away.
“We have to be better in our own end,” assessed Corfmat. “Our play in the d-zone, that’s what killed us tonight.”
Last year’s most valuable player Keethan Isbister notched his fifth goal of the season since returning to the club after the Christmas break while Brody Anderson and Ryan Pidborochynski also tallied for the Timberjaks.
Jeffrey Stewart and Garin Lammers had two goals each for the Chiefs while Luke Senick and Cohen Noreikat chipped in with singles. Dylan Prince had a big night for Martensville collecting four assists.
Both goaltenders were busy as Prince Albert’s Brayden Lyons turned aside 51 of 57 shots directed his way while Rhett Harkot had 42 saves, including a pair of high-light reel stops late in the game.
Special teams were a problem for the Timberjaks as they allowed a pair of power-play markers and missed on converting several man-advantage situations of their own including a pair of 5-on-3 advantages in the third period.
“We’ve got to suck it up,” said Corfmat. “At the same time, you make a clean hit and there is a loud noise from hitting the boards and there is a call; it is what it is.”
“Lazy penalties killed us,” added Corfmat.
The Timberjaks will look for a bit of retribution on Saturday when they travel to Martensville for a rematch with the Chiefs. Of the eight remaining games, Prince Albert will be the visitor in six of those including a key head-to-head tilt in Carrot River on Feb. 13 against the Thunder.
Next home game is Tuesday when the Timberjaks will host the division-leading Saskatoon Quakers at 8 p.m. at the Northern Regional Rec Centre.
