Indians vs Senators

For the first Semi Final game this Saturday we have the Keller Indians vs the Tomcast Senators.

These two teams met a total of two times this season, both times the Tribe walked away victorious. However, the first tilt was decided in overtime, so the Sens did snake a point off the reservation. The Indians are the favorites to win the Keg this year, so the Senators will have to be on their A game. Indians were the #1 seed in the tournament with the Sens coming in as the #5 seed.

Looking back at the first time these two met this season, the Senators offense was in full force with Center Matt Davis scoring 4 goals with one assist for a five point night. The other half of the Sens power offense, Mac Donovan, had one goal and three assists for a four point evening. Also joining in the scoring fun for the Senators was left handed winger Baron Oursler.

On the reservation Kyle Kelly had four goals, Malette had one, and Schnider also had one. For those conspiracy theorists out there, Kyle Kelly did not score the winning goal. In fact, after a long tight battle, the Tribe won when the Senators defense made a bone headed play allowing a quick breakaway and the game winning goal just seconds in to the overtime period.

The second time these two Giants of the Game met the Indians wore down the Sens 4-1. Malette scored, Quinn had one, and Kyle Kelly had a pair. For the Sens it was just Oursler who lit the lamp.

In the two contests Indians goalie Ryan Kelly stopped a total of 48 shots while allowing 7 goals. Mexico the Senators goalie stopped 60 shots, but allowed 10.

This game is going to come down to one thing, the Kelly family. If Ryan Kelly is solid in net, and Kyle Kelly keeps the pace of play flowing, the Senators are going to have their hands full. Father Les Kelly will hold court on the blue line, and do his part in preventing a Senators offensive rush. There are plenty of chiefs on the reservation that can score, so the Senators will have to focus on more than just the Kelly family. Dan Custred will more than likely suit up, and he is a guy who can move the puck around on you. The Senators will have to do a good job of fore and back checking these Indians if they want to steal their peace pipe and send smoke signals to the winner of the next Semi match up between the Bees and Gators.

The Senators will need solid play out of Matt Davis and Mac Donovan, as well as some discipline to stay out of the box. This Indians squad will take advantage of a power play, so the Sens need to stand strong and not allow such a thing to happen.

Hard to say who will win this one. The Senators did defeat Ryan Kelly last week when he was in net for the Canes, so perhaps they have his number. Killer is going to give the edge here to the Sens (I am a sucker for an underdog). These guys are hungry, and with several players moving up to the D league, they will be playing hard to finish the season on a high note. Word on the street is that plans are in motion for the team to have a new look next season. I also overheard a couple of the Sens talking this past weekend, and perhaps there is a new sponsor on the horizon for the Tomcast Senators.

I say 4-3 Sens in a shootout.