K-W/Wby #2 Report

ZACK ATTACK!!!

PORT WHITBY - As if the K-W Braves didn't have enough to worry about with Whitby's playoff experience and their coming together as a team. Tuesday night it was the unstoppable Zack Greer who was too hot to handle. With his U19 experience behind him, Greer dominated Game Two of the best of seven Quarter Final as the Warriors topped K-W 9-7. That gives Whitby a 2-0 series lead as the Braves - who haven't won a playoff game since 1992 - must be feeling the pressure.

The contest started well enough for the visitors. They beat Rick Passfield three times on their first five shots for an early advantage. After that goals were hard to come by. From the start the Warriors peppered Mike Poulin with shots. They eventually broke through for a pair, Greer setting up the first then scoring the second. At the end of the period the score read Burlington 3 Whitby 2(Pollock and Brownlee scoring all K-W goals).

The Braves had their power play opportunities early but wasted them feebly. Andrew Watt ran it for the most part and he looked very out of sync with his teammates. The Warriors grabbed their first lead in the second when Greer and Matt Taylor combined for back to back goals. Jeff Brownlee gave his team a desperately needed marker to tie it 5-5. The period concluded with a killer goal with 2 seconds left. K-W's power play had the final possession but - as was often the case - they turned the ball over. Speedy Casey Logeman punished them. 6-5 Whitby.

The Braves power play did finally succeeed as Brownlee scored again. Next came a tough penalty to Ryan Benesch for holding. Benesch was having a rough night, often double and triple teamed. On more than one occasion his shirt was tugged. Yet it was the K-W star who eventually earned the holding penalty. Stephen Hoar punished the Braves instantly and Whitby had the lead for good. Mark Craig later busted inside to make it 8-6. With 6 minutes remaining Taylor fed Greer and he sent a lazer past Poulin - an absolute beauty of a goal! With their goalie out the visitors got one back as Sean Pollock scored. Six of the Braves seven goals came from former Chiefs Brownlee and Pollock.

This was the best the Warriors have looked all season. They had loads of enthusiasm on offence all night. Even though they trailed the first half of the contest it always looked they it was their game to win. On defence they displayed the kind of meanness they'll need if they advance to play St.Catharines. Stellar work from the likes of Andy Glenn, David Campbell, Brian Riddell, Shawn Stephens and friends.

Another close loss for the Brown Shirts. It will be difficult for them to shift momentum in this series. They really needed to hang on and squeak out a win tonight. What they must have now is better efforts from their top players. Benesch was completely neutralised. He played with the ball far too much and suffered from little support. K-W need Andrew Watt and Mark Tinning to step up. They were totally ineffective Tuesday night. A healthy Joel Wilson would be another boost as they sorely miss #10.

Three playoff nights and counting. The "so-called" competitive OLA Jr.A League is threatening four first round sweeps. A few weeks ago, while watching K-W win in Whitby, a certain super fan stated that K-W was K-W and Whitby was Whitby, therefore if they met in the playoffs you could count on the Braves not winning a game. Is Jr.A really that predictable?