The Cochrane Chaos are looking to dig themselves out of a hole in their Alberta Junior Female Hockey League (AJFHL) championship series with the Edmonton Wolves.
Games 1 and 2 of the finals took place on March 16 and 17 at Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre with both contests finishing in eerily similar fashion. Game 1 was scoreless throughout the first and second period with the two combatants exchanging chances throughout the opening two frames. Midway through the third period, Edmonton got a shorthanded breakaway and took advantage of their opportunity to make it 1-0. Cochrane had numerous opportunities to score the equalizer but failed to do so as the Wolves escaped with a1-0 victory in the first game of the series.
Game 2 was much of the same with Edmonton scoring a goal in the first and second period to rush out to a 2-0 lead before Kaylin Herman tipped in Cochrane's first goal of the series. Unfortunately, that was all the Chaos would get in the way of offence as they were shut down the remainder of the game with the score finishing 2-1 in favour of the visitors.
"I thought Edmonton played really well. They were physical, really tight in their end and their goaltender really stood on her head," said Chaos head coach Derek Loomer. "We had numerous chances to score including breakaways, odd-man rushes and scrambles in front of the net but we just didn't take advantage of our opportunities. We couldn't break through to get the goal that we needed, while they scored on their opportunities ... we just have to solve that problem of taking advantage of our opportunities and we'll be OK."
With a pair of one-goal games, the Chaos found themselves in a position to have a 2-0 series lead instead of the other way around. Loomer said the team just needs a few bounces to go their way in order for the series to turn the tide.
"We just need to bear down on our chances and try something different on our breakaways and odd-man rushes," said Loomer. "We need to make sure we're supporting each other a little better on those and getting solid, quality shots on net when we get those opportunities and pouncing on any rebounds we can get."
The team was in a similar situation last year as they were down 2-0 in the league finals against the Sherwood Park Steele. The Chaos ultimately lost the game 3-2 in double overtime to lose the series but Loomer said that experience could help the team overcome the deficit this time around.
"I think from being in this position last year, the girls just really need to reflect on that experience and be prepared to play the full 60 minutes," said the Chaos head coach. "We need to work hard for the bounces we get because even last year, during the third game the winning goal was just one of those weird bounces that end up in your net. Anything can happen and the girls need to be aware that you need to make your own opportunites and work hard from the drop of the puck to make those opportunities count."
With the series being 2-0 in favour of Edmonton, Loomer wants to make sure his team takes it one shift, one period and one game at a time in order to climb back into the series.
"It's not about winning three games, it's about winning every shift that you're on the ice and really looking at the game you're playing in where you say to yourselves 'okay this is the game we're playing in right now, lets focus and win this game'," Loomer said. "We need to focus on today, get through that and then worry about tomorrow."
Should Cochrane win the next two games on the road, Game 5 will take place at the Cochrane Arena on March 30 with puck drop going at 6 p.m. Games 3 and 4 in Edmonton on March 23 and 24.
