Beefs qualify for playoffs

The Beefs have made it back into the playoffs winning their first division title in the process. It was a long tough battle all season long with a division filled with some of the best teams in the league but have somehow managed to come out on top.

Leading the way offensively was David Krejci who managed to put up a team high 44 goals and 106 points while Heatley turned playmaker this season putting up a team high 67 assists. The pair also were the top 2 +/- players with +27 for Krejci and +30 for Heatley. In other areas Andrei Markov was the leading point getter on D with 56 points in 77 games while Oscar Moller also had a very strong rookie season putting up 35 goals and 43 assists. David Backes was his usual physical self leading the team with 284 hits.

The biggest revelation for the team has been the emergence of rookie goalie Howie Hole who backstopped the team to a 43-20-3 record with a .904 sv% and a 2.62 GAA.

Next up is a first round matchup against the rival victory. The regular season series was tough for the Beefs with a 3-5-0 record but should prove to be a good series as both teams have had their share of big wins against the other.

Here are the previous matchups.
Game 43: Beefs 0-4 Victory
Theodore records a shutout as the Beefs offence struggles to find any footing only firing 20 shots on net. Deslauriers was shaky allowing 4 goals on 33 shots.
3 Stars:
1 - Jose Theodore (VIC)
2 - Andy Greene (VIC)
3 - Enver Lisin (VIC)

Game 205: Victory 1-2 Beefs
Beefs reversed the shots this time around outshooting the victory 30-19. Both goalies were good with Theodore stopping 28 of 30 and Howie Hole stopping 18 of 19. Krejci got the game winner in the final 5 mins of the 3rd. This game also saw a couple of fights with Moller beating up Kostitsyn and getting ejected while Lecavalier beat up Rivet in the 3rd.
3 Stars:
1 - Howie Hole (STE)
2 - Enver Lisin (VIC)
3 - David Krejci (STE)

Game 261: Beefs 5-1 Victory
David Backes was a man on a mission scoring a natural hat trick in the first 15 mins of the game, all on the PP. The shots were even but the score wasn't and with the score 5-1 early in the 3rd all hell broke loose. Stuart, Moller, Toews, Markov, Oshie, Frolik, Johnson, Ott, Kostitsyn and Ranger were all involved in fights.
3 Stars:
1 - David Backes (STE)
2 - Howie Hole (STE)
3 - David Krejci (STE)

Game 302: Victory 5-4 Beefs
A wild offensive affair with both goalies facing a high number of shots. The Victory stormed out to a 5-1 lead and held on despite a spirited fight back from the Beefs in the 3rd.
3 Stars:
1 - David Krejci (STE)
2 - Jonathan Toews (VIC)
3 - Dennis Wideman (VIC)

Game 401: Beefs 2-3 Victory
Another close game offensively however this time the shots were more lopsided in the Victory's favour. Both sides tallied on the PP and once again the Victory took the lead into the 3rd with the Beefs pulling back to within 1 before the final buzzer.
3 Stars:
1 - Andrei Kostitsyn (VIC)
2 - Andrei Markov (STE)
3 - Andy Greene (VIC)

Game 424: Beefs 3-7 Victory
This was one of the Beefs more forgettable games. The Victory owned every area of the ice, outshooting the Beefs 41-18. Hole did his best to hold the fort but with no help in front of him the Victory took control. The Beefs actually had a 2-1 lead after the first period and was trailing 4-3 going into the 3rd where the Victory exploded for 3 more goals.
3 Stars:
1 - Andrew Kostitsyn (VIC)
2 - Jonathan Toews (VIC)
3 - Daniel Sedin (VIC)

Game 554: Victory 0-2 Beefs
Considering the last game this one came as a welcome addition to Holes stats with a 27 save shutout. Backes notched a pair of goals in the 2nd to take the 2-0 win.
3 Stars:
1 - Howie Hold (STE)
2 - David Backes (STE)
3 - Dany Heatley (STE)

Game 748: Victory 4-3 Beefs
Another close game with some average goal tending and lots of goals. The teams traded the lead several times with the Victory coming out on top. This game also featured a fight with Rivet and Wisniewski dropping the gloves.
3 Stars:
1 - Paul Ranger (STE)
2 - Enver Lisin (VIC)
3 - Heatley (STE)

The Star honours even at 12 a piece!

Yep! Looks like the players to watch will be the goalies, Lisin, Kostitsyn, Krejci and Backes!

Imagine that as our play-off series.....

No....that would have you winning