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KENNEWICK On paper, the Chilliwack Bruins shouldn't have a prayer of winning a game against the Tri-City Americans in the first round of the WHL playoffs that begin today at Toyota Center.
The Americans just won their third straight U.S. Division banner, their second Western Conference title in three years and have a combined 308 games of playoff experience.
The Bruins are the eighth seed in the Western Conference, finished 26 points behind the Americans and have just 84 combined games of playoff experience.
But, when you break it down, the Americans went 1-3 against the Bruins during the regular season, finished the regular season going 5-5 in their last 10 games and needed rival Spokane to beat Everett to win the division and conference titles. This, after storming through the first half of league play like a bull in a China shop.
"The playoffs are a whole new game," said Chilliwack coach Marc Habscheid. "Take the regular season and throw it out. They will be ready. They are a good team and Jim (Hiller) has done a good job with them. We have a lot of respect for them. We have managed to get a win or two against them, but we aren't under the illusion that we have them figured out. We don't, but those wins give us a glimmer of hope"
Tri-City coach Jim Hiller, who spent three years behind the Bruins bench before this season, has wiped the slate clean and his team is starting anew tonight.
"That is the exciting part for every team," Hiller said of getting fresh start. "Every team and every player has a zero by their name. We played some good games this year and some not so good games. We had a solid season and put ourselves in a good spot for the playoffs. I just don't think we played very well when we played them. I don't think we competed at the level we needed to."
The Bruins, who missed the playoffs last year after winning just 19 games, have a whole new outlook on things under Habscheid.
"We are just trying to add to it. There were some pieces in place and that is the evolution of an expansion franchise," Habscheid said. "We are trying to build. We started out older, then got younger and improved as the season went on."
The Americans definitely have the edge in playoff experience in the series. Captain Jarrett Toll leads the team with 35 playoff games, followed by Kruise Reddick with 33 and Tyler Schmidt with 31.
"Playoffs are the best time of the year," Toll said. "We are looking forward to getting it started. Chilliwack is a good team, they compete hard and they killed us with their forecheck. The bonus is we are healthy and not a lot of teams can say that."
Despite their lack of playoff experience, Habscheid said the Bruins are looking forward to the series.
"Experience is always a great teacher," Habscheid said. "We have a young group that has to go through it. Our guys don't have anything to lose, they will just go out and do their best."
Goaltending will be crucial in the series with the high-powered offense of the Americans and the precision play of Bruins' leading scorer Ryan Howse (47 goals, but only one against Tri-City).
Chilliwack will go with Lucas Gore, who was 3-0 against Tri-City, while the Americans will counter with either Drew Owsley (0-1) or Alex Pechurskiy (1-2).
"We will decide close to game time," Hiller said. "You are always watching them. You want to see good habits and you want to see them both stopping pucks."
NOTES: The WHL announced the Western Conference All-Star teams Thursday. Owsley was the Americans' lone honoree as a second-team goaltender. Also, Tri-City general manager Bob Tory is up for executive of the year, along with Kelly McCrimmon of the Brandon Wheat Kings.
