Prediger to make changes in Bucs
Des Moines Tribune
Friday, 3-26-82
by Don Clasen
Coach Ivan Prediger, whose Des Moines Buccaneers were clobbered, 8-2, in Wednesday night's opening game of the United States Hockey League championship series at Sioux City, promises some changes for tonight's contest at the Ice Arena here. Prediger also said the Bucs will benefit from being able to play their normal "free-skating game" on the larger Ice Arena rink.
"I'm mad, but not discouraged," said Prediger, who also will make some adjustments for the third game when the best-of-five series returns to Sioux City's smaller Municipal Auditorium surface Saturday night.
"They got physical with Hart (Myles, Des Moines' USHL regular season scoring leader). They were keying on him. When they put two guys on him that means somebody else has got to be free.
"Myles got only one shot on net all night," added Prediger, who looks for Hart to play his usual free-wheeling game here.
Des Moines dumped the Musketeers, 5-2, in the elimination round of the playoffs.
After losing its first two opening round playoff games, Sioux City won three in a row to advance to the finals against Des Moines.
Prediger noted that Wednesday night the Bucs were "outshot badly" - 56-32. But he praised goalie Mark Pagnac. "He played an exceptional game before I replaced him with about 7 minutes to go. He's played in all six of our playoff games; I wanted to give him a rest."
Prediger, who in his days as a defenseman with the old Oak Leafs shadowed many a scoring leader, said he'll have "someone on" the Musketeers' Pete Ryskamp and Brian Williams tonight.
Williams spurted past Hart for the individual scoring lead in the playoffs by bagging four goals and adding three assists. Ryskamp contributed a pair of goals and assists.
In six playoff games, Williams has 10 goals and 9 assists for 19 points. Hart is next with 12 points on six goals and as many assists.
The Bucs' Bill Ries tied Hart by scoring one of Des Moines' goals Wednesday night.
Prediger is hopeful that several of his ailing players will be able to return to action tonight.
Despite a shoulder dislocation, all-star defenseman Scott Lauder "didn't show that he was hurt" Wednesday night, Prediger said. He should be at nearly full strength for tonight's 7:30 faceoff.
And Jeff Ulrich, a member of the Hart line who didn't make the trip to Sioux City because of a flu-like illness, may be ready, too.
Greg Shively, another all-star defenseman who didn't suit up Wednesday night, was to see his doctor this morning and may return.
Shively played in Saturday's thrilling 9-7 first-round victory over St. Paul, but his doctor ruled him out of the game at Sioux City when pressure built up behind his eye. Shively missed several games after being hit in the face by a Sioux City stick Feb. 26.
What does Prediger prescribe to cure the Bucs' ills in Sioux City?
"We've got to play with more intensity to get more shots. We've got to put a guy on Ryskamp and Williams," he said.
"We can't be fancy, but we must be aggressive and go for the rebounds.
"We've got to be like Sioux City. Once over the red line, we've got to shoot and have a guy human' for the net and a guy following him.
"That's what they (Sioux City) did.
"Then, to break out of our zone, we've got to go to the weak side. We got trapped many times on the strong side Wednesday night."
If it's any consolation, few teams have been able to handle Sioux City at home. The Musketeers lost only a few games there while winning the regular-season title.
Championship Series
WEDNESDAY NIGHT'S GAME
Sioux City 8, Des Moines 2
TONIGHT'S GAME
Sioux City at Des Moines
SATURDAY NIGHT'S GAME
Des Moines at Sioux City