Winning a playoff game is like comfort food. Warm, filling and ... well ... comforting! Every game you win is a good thing, to quote the insufferable Martha Stewart, and I have to think that even Martha could say that the Bucs winning a playoff game was a good thing. Perhaps it wouldn't be enough to be in her magazine or on her show, but she accepted the crude Rock on her show, so I think it likely that she'd accept the Bucs as well.

It wasn't a surprise that we would be playing Omaha in the first round of the playoffs, how often does it seem we always face them either first, or last in the often elusive quest for the Clark Cup? Anyway, we were going to play them first Wednesday night and were lucky enough to grab the night when the fan turnout was less then satisfactory. With just a little over 2,000 fans in the 6,000 seat arena it couldn't help but be a determining factor. Granted most of the die hard fans were there and were probably the biggest cheering base anyway, it still had to look good when you looked out at the empty crowd.

The Buccaneers came out very strong in the first period and hung on all the way through before grabbing their first goal with a mere 39 seconds left in the period. This goal came from Miro (Bennett, Weber) They didn't stop fighting, but in the second period after a questionable call by the ... linesman ... Omaha tied up the game. They had plenty of time to get that power play goal, a whole five minutes, since that was the time allotted to Chiodo for slashing Drew Kriner. The second period ended in the tie and anything could happen in the third period.

For most of the period anything didn't happen, as a matter of fact nothing but pretty even play was had. But with 1:07 left in the period Reinholz made it 2-1 and then continued to keep the play down around Ellis so that he couldn't be pulled. Hastings took the time out with about half a minute left to plan strategy. However the Bucs wouldn't let Omaha have a chance and had a strangle hold on them until the clock ran out. We had the advantage and it was a good one with the added bonus of it being an away game and the first game of the playoff series.

Make sure you come to the game in white Friday night, it's White Out Night. It's to show your support ... and just think, you'll be able to spot the Lancer fans easily! Written by Sarah Bendy.

The Bucs opened the scoring with less than 4 minutes gone in the game when a hard-working Landon Bathe battled through a defender and set up David Klema for the goal. Troy Riddle scored next on a powerplay, and with 22 seconds left in the first period Jerrid Reinholz made it 3-1. The Lancers pulled Ellis and scored another powerplay goal to make it 3-2 with 2:30 left in the game. Peter Sejna picked up a loose puck at mid-ice and scored an empty-net goal to give the Bucs a 4-2 win.

Klema (Bathe), Riddle (PP) (Bennett, Sejna), Reinholz (PP) (Sejna, Riddle) and Sejna (EN) scored for the Bucs. Mantua was in goal.

Game Rant

Here we all were, wearing white and getting ready for a game that had been all anyone could talk about since Wednesday night. Having won the first game of the playoff series against Omaha we were happily ready to take the Lancers on again. I have to say that it was the best game of the season and I have never heard the fans so loud or seen such great support. It was truly a great showing.

It was the first period that was most substantial, we won the game in the first period. Klema scored the first goal of the game, what an asset that kid has been for us (Bathe). The rest of the game was also all about power play goals. Because both of our next two goals and Omaha's goals were all scored on power plays. The crowd was wild from the beginning and the game was exciting. When Caponigri slashed at Mantua (who had just gloved the puck) he got put away for the penalty and it was then that Riddle got us our second goal (Bennett, Sejna). Omaha scored their first goal with 3:07 left in the period, but we answered that goal near the end of the period from the Reinholz goal (Sejna, Riddle).

The second period resulted in the Lancers playing better then they had in the first, but with the way the Bucs were playing they really didn't stand a chance. They played a solid period, but there was no score from either team, no fights, no altercations, nothing very significant to talk about. It would be that way until the end of the third period when Omaha would bring the game even closer, too close in fact for our comfort. They scored the power play goal with only two and a half minutes left and after pulling the goalie worked hard to get in the tying goal. However, Peter Sejna, who had worked hard all night and been constantly dragged down broke away with four seconds left and scored an empty net goal. The fans went crazy, the Buc bench went crazy, the Lancers were defeated. The Bucs had won the second game, with one left to sweep the Lancers.

If you are going to the Omaha game don't forget to wear your "White Out" T-shirts. The Lancers are having a "Black Out" so we want to stick out so the Buccaneers can see us in force and know we're there to cheer them on! Buccaneers, you've played your heart out, congratulations to you all and to the coaching staff...what an amazing series so far...with the determination I've seen the last two games, I know you can take them tonight as well! Written by Sarah Bendy.

The Bucs domination of the Lancers began with the first drop of the puck. Miroslav Durak opened the scoring for the Bucs midway through the first period on a blast from the blue line, and Alex Kim scored 18 seconds later to make it 2-0. Jesse Lane ended the first period blitz with a rocket from the blue line. The Bucs scored one more goal, a short-handed goal, when Jerrid Reinholz fed Peter Sejna. In goal, Mike Mantua was like a rock stopping shot after shot. In the 4 game series with Omaha, Mike did not allow a single even strength goal.

Durak (Novak), Kim (Bennett), Lane (Kim, Bennett) and Sejna (SH) (Reinholz) scored for the Bucs. Mantua was in goal.

Rant

Though the Bucs surely did have control of the game, it was a nail biter just the same. It was hard not to cringe every time the Morrison put his arm up. Which let me tell you, was often. All I can say about him is, please, please...don't let him ever ref another playoff game! I for one, call for his demise!

Now, onto happier, more pleasent thoughts. I think all I have to say for this game is, Mike Mantua. Whatever got into that boy was probably the best thing that could have happened Tuesday night. He was stellar in goal, stopping everything (until the last period, but let's just ignore that one for now). He was on his game in a solid way and it was pure joy to watch him almost strut out there and grab the puck, holding it high to prove he had it. Mantua won the game for us, if not the series.

I am not forgetting, nor am I trying to gloss over the other players who also contributed to the game, because the entire team really made an effort for the night. From Miroslav Durak who scored the first goal, to Kim who had a goal and assist, and even Bennett who helped out in more then one goal. It seemed that for once the Bucs were not being stonewalled by the mighty Ellis. Instead the first period ended up being a blow out as the Bucs scored three goals. The first one came at 10:53 from Durak (Novak). That one was followed quickly by a goal from Alex Kim (Bennett). With just about three minutes left in the period came our third goal from Jesse Lane (Kim, Bennett).

The turn out at the arena was really pretty good and as Mantua made great save after great save in very high style, the fans got louder and louder. Of course in the second period the fans had plenty to get excited about as the situation with Morrison got worse. I think in general it could be deemed that the fans were very unhappy about the job he'd done. Just the same it didn't help the Lancers in coming even close to evening up the score. Peter Sejna scored a short handed goal at 6:43 (Reinholz) and we were leading 4-0.

Sadly enough though, Mantua lost the shut out in the third period and Omaha got their only goal of the game. I think I was really ready to cry to see him lose his shut out. I think most of the building wanted to see him get a shut out, but there's always another time. We ended the game without being able to get an empty net goal (so very close, who would've thought we couldn't get an empty net goal no matter how hard we tried?). However with a lead of 4-1 I don't think it was that big of a deal. Maybe next year Omaha.

March Rants | 1999-2000 Schedule | Clark Cup Round 2

Disclaimer
This is a game summary and commentary from a Buccaneer fan's point of view, and the viewpoints expressed in this column DO NOT necessarily reflect those of the Des Moines Buccaneer's organization.