The Lacombe Generals took a 3-1 lead in their seven-game series against the Stony Plain Eagles over the weekend and now look to close out the series Wednesday night in Lacombe.
Game 5, which will commence at 8 p.m. at the Gary Moe Auto Group Sportsplex, is a good opportunity for the Generals, according to Forward Kyle Bailey.
“Anytime you have the opportunity to end a series and win a Provincial Championship is something we are all real excited about,” he said. “Most of us have played this game long enough to know the fourth win of a best of seven series is the toughest one to win.”
The Generals are coming off a weekend where they scored 14 goals over two games, but Bailey said that number is deceiving.
“We are going to have to be our best because they have shown throughout the first four games of this series that they won’t just roll over and let us win,” he said. “Of those 14 goals, there was probably four to five of them that happened in the last five minutes of the third period.”
The Eagles also won Game 2 in a game that was low-scoring and went to overtime.
“They are a good hockey team and they play very disciplined,” Bailey said. “They are very opportunistic and we have to be really mentally tough to make sure we are playing our game.”
On full display this series has been the General’s depth, with contributions coming from up and down the lineup.
“That is a trademark of how Jeff McInnis built this team,” Bailey said. “He built it with a lot of depth. If one particular guy isn’t going that night, usually the other lines pick up the slack.”
He added depth is very important in the playoffs.
“Your more offensively gifted players will be keyed on and it can be more difficult. You need guys to step up and we have had that. I hope we continue to have that,” Bailey said.
It hasn’t been announced whether Steven Standford or Jake Deserres will start in net for the Generals but Bailey said his team is confident either way.
“We have a lot of confidence in both of those guys and whoever goes in we expect them to give us an ample opportunity to win. It will be up to us as skaters to hold up our end of the bargain,” he said.
He added, “Anytime you get in a situation where you have an opponent on the ropes, the start of the game is amplified. We need to have a good start and I know they will play hard and not quit. There has to be a bit of doubt in their mind and we need to amplify that doubt.