ON SATURDAY THE YELLOWSTONE QUAKE MADE THE TRIP OVER TO BOZEMAN, AS THEY CONTINUE ONE OF THEIR TOUGHEST STRETCHES OF THE SEASON. THE QUAKE WOULD FALL AT THE HANDS OF THE ICE DOGS 3-1. WITH THE LOSS THE QUAKE DROP BACK INTO FIFTH PLACE. GOING FORWARD YELLOWSTONE WILL PLAY 5 OF THEIR LAST 6 GAMES IN WYOMING AND HAS 4 OF THEIR REMAINING 6 AT HOME. I CAUGHT UP WITH HEAD COACH PHIL OBERLIN AND TALKS ABOUT THE ADVANTAGE OF HAVING FOUR GAMES AT HOME.
“HAVING THE HOME ICE ADVANTAGE AND BEING COMFORTABLE HERE I THINK SHOULD HELP, NOT HAVING TO BE ON THE BUS AND DEAL WITH THAT. IT’S GOING TO BE PRETTY BIG. ESPECIALLY THAT LAST WEEKEND GOING AGAINST GILLETTE. WE MAY BE SEPARATED BY ONE, TWO POINTS, MAYBE 3 POINTS. SO THAT’S GOING TO BE A BIG WEEKEND IN TERMS OF WHERE WE END UP FINISHING.”
COACH OBERLIN TALKS ABOUT PLAYING IN FRONT OF THE HOME CROWD AND ADDS WHEN THE FANS ARE INTO IT, IT’S A HUGE BOOST.
“YOU KNOW THE SUPPORT FROM THE FANS IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING WE’RE LOOKING FOR. WE’RE TRYING TO DO WHATEVER WE CAN TO KIND OF GET THEM MORE INVOLVED AND GET THEM LOUDER AND KIND OF GET THEM OUT OF THEIR SEATS AND STOMPING AND CLAPPING. THAT’S DEFINITELY IMPORTANT. IF WE HAVE SUPPORT FROM THE FAN BASE AND THEY LET TEAMS KNOW THEY’RE IN THE BUILDING, HELPS OUR GUYS TO KIND OF GET UP AS WELL AND PLAY A LITTLE BIT HARDER. FIND THAT EXTRA ENERGY THERE MAYBE LATE IN THE PERIOD.”
NEXT UP ON THE SCHEDULE IS A TEAM THE QUAKE HAS NOT BEAT ALL SEASON THE GREAT FALLS AMERICANS. COACH OBERLIN ON HOW THE TEAM PLANS TO COME AWAY VICTORIOUS FOR THE FIRST TIME VS. GREAT FALLS.
IT’S DEFINITELY GOING TO BE BREAKOUTS, IT’S DEFINITELY GOING TO BE PATIENCE WITH THE PUCK AND PUCK SUPPORT IN THE D-ZONE AND THEN TO THE BREAK OUTS. THEY’RE VERY STRUCTURED IN TERMS OF THEIR FLOOR CHECK, ALLOWING THEIR DEFENSE-MEN TO PINCH DOWN THE WALL CONSISTENTLY. AND SO THAT PRESSURES OUR WINGS, SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE’RE READY FOR THAT. MAKING SURE THAT WE’RE READY TO NOT JUST BE THROWING PUCKS UP THE WALL BLINDLY, BUT MAKE SURE WE’RE POSSESSING THE PUCK AND COMING OUT A LITTLE BIT MORE PATIENT.”
COACH OBERLIN GOES ON TO TALK ABOUT WHAT IT WILL TAKE TO WIN THIS FACE-OFF AND WHO NEEDS TO BE A DIFFERENCE MAKER.
“THAT TEAM DEFENSE. MAKING SURE THAT OUR MENTALITY IS DEFENSE FIRST. WE ENDED UP WITH A POWER PLAY GOAL THIS PAST WEEKEND TO KIND OF CLOSE THE GAP LATE IN THE THIRD PERIOD. I THINK THAT’S SOMETHING THAT WE’VE BEEN RELYING ON, I THINK IT’S GOING TO BE VITAL THIS WEEKEND. GREAT FALLS IS THE LEAST PENALIZED TEAM IN OUR DIVISION, I BELIEVE. SO WE’RE NOT GOING TO BE LOOKING AT GETTING A WHOLE BUNCH OF POWER PLAY OPPORTUNITIES BUT IF WE GET AN OPPORTUNITY WE GOT TO MAKE SURE WE MAKE THE MOST OF IT.”
THE YELLOWSTONE QUAKE ARE BACK ON THEIR HOME ICE THIS FRIDAY AND SATURDAY, HOSTING THE GREAT FALLS AMERICANS. PUCK DROPS AT 7:30PM BOTH NIGHTS.
