The Donuts entered the playoffs as divisional winner and second best overall record. All players healthy for the playoffs and 3 goalies qualified for action, so the table was set.
First round was set against Portland Owls. During regular season we had met 6 times and it was a 4-2 in my favor. Jumping to a fast 2-0 lead in my home games and was then bombed in 4 game, chasing Kahkonen from the game. Game 5 at home and late in second period Lindholm scored to make it 5-3. Third period Portland got a goal midway through but soon after Draisatl scored a powerplay goal which was the last of the game and series. WIS advance due to 4-1.
Second round against Parry Sound Orrsmen who just had swept division second seed team, Fort Erie Falcons. Again the regular season record was 4-2 in my favor. Again gaining a 2-0 lead in my home games via 2 one goal victories. Those close defeats broke the back of the Orrsmen and resulted in 2 easier wins away and a sweep of the series, WIS advance 4-0.
Division finals against Niagara Falls Thunder and this was scary as the regular season record was 1-5 in favor of Niagara and had improved during the season by getting Kane, Nurse and Petry before the deadline. All fears where realized as Niagara was awesome for 4 periods then Donuts evened it up but was down 0-2 after the inital home games. Third game was won but we lost Elias Pettersson after 3 min playing time in first period. In the fourth game Niagara jumped to a 3-0 lead and won the game easily with 3-1 and leading the series by 3-1 while regular season best player Pettersson was on injury list. It looked bleak for The ´nuts. Captain McDonut, sorry McDonagh rallied the team and told them one game at the time. Game 5 at home and Donuts jumped to a 5-0 lead and took a win by 5-2. Game 6 was a goaltending game and Niagara Binnington took 45 of 46 shots but Ullmark took the shout out. The series suddenly tied at 3-3, last game at home and Niagaras Stamkos was starting to look tired after being used heavily. Game 7 became a nail biter, Niagara in the lead after 2 periods, two quick goals by Donuts turned the table to 4-3 and a mid period power play goal scored by Marchand made it a 4-4 game after regulation time. So into overtime in game 7!
Hamition looked like a villain taking a hooking call 5 min into OT, but the Donuts managed to hold off. After 9 minutes Klefbom intercepted a pass in own zone and passed it up to Hamilton who slipped into Niagara zone and saw Draisatl beating his defenseman. The pass was made and a quick shot by Draisatl into the net, and the home crowd goes absolutely nuts! OT win in final game for the win, while being out shot 7-6 in the OT period. WIS advance to finals via 4-3 and a comeback from 1-3.
The Sudbury Miners had best record so Donuts had to start on road for first time. During regular season Donuts was 2-0 against the Miners, so there was hope. Donuts had Pettersson back in action and at the 6 min it is 1-1 and Kopitar takes a face off in own zone and in the ensuing battle he is hit by Wheeler and his knee buckles. Kopitar is taken out on a stretcher and looks to be out for rest of season. Donuts respond to the loss and penalize Niagara for taking penalties by doing 3 unanswered powerplay goals before the first period ends and then cruise to a 6-3 win. Game two was won in similar fashion with 4 unanswered goals over first 2 periods and ending 4-1. So 2-0 lead after two road games. A sell out crowd saluted the team and wanted them to finish the series at home ice. Game 3 was low scoring but Kaprizov and Rakell gave the Donuts a lead and a later Wheeler goal was not enough. 3-1 in games and a chance to to win the Kehler cup for first time in front of home crowd.
Fourth game, no goals in first period but Sudbury was not giving it up and scored first, in early second period. Two later goals by Draisatl and Hamiton turned the tables so the Donuts where leading at the end of the second period. At the start of the third period Draisatl intercepted a pass from Josi in neutral zone and found an advancing Kaprizov who went into Niagaras zone and took the shot, a 3-1 lead! Donuts could then hold onto the lead in front of a crazy crowd at the Bag in Wisborg. Matthews and Lindholm scored later and the game ended 4-2 and the Donuts could raise the Kehler Cup in front of a frantic home crowd.
A few fact to round it out.
Draisatl had an injury during regular season making him only have around a 6% shot procent during the season but at playoffs he doubled the shot procent and lead the playoffs in goals, assist and points, as well as most minutes played by any forward in playoffs. Second best %-rating in face of with 57%. But the most important was the goal in overtime in game 7 in front of the home crowd.
Hamiton lead all defenders in points and scored the most goals in playoffs with 8. 7 of the goals was powerplay goals and 2 better than any other player in playoffs. But best remembered in same game 7 OT for first taking the penalty and later finding Draistl with a pass for the clicher and securing the win with a goal in game 4 in finals.
Lehner also deserves a mention with most wins during playoffs and best GAA at 2,54 per game. So outstanding team members on all positions but a team effort riding out being down and almost out, injuries to key players Lindholm, Pettersson and Kopitar.
The powerplay was until the last 7 games by far the worst of all teams in the playoffs south of 10%. The last 7 games had a near 30% powerplay and resulted in 7 straight wins in the last games!
