Improved Bucs face 'ex-friends' in title playoff
Des Moines Tribune
Wednesday, 3-24-82
Sunday night, most of the Des Moines Buccaneers were in Sioux City cheering the Musketeers to an 8-2 thrashing of St. Paul in the final game of the opening United States Hockey League playoffs.
The victory enabled Des Moines to gain this week's championship series. But little did the Bucs know that their opponents would be the Musketeers.
Tonight, the Bucs won't be as friendly as they return to Sioux City's Municipal Auditorium to open the best-of-five title series at 7:30.
Despite finishing the regular season with a disappointing 18-29-1 record, the Bucs played well in the opening round-robin playoff and tied with Austin, Sioux City and St. Paul with a 3-2 mark.
Under a previously determined formula, Des Moines and Sioux City reached the finals because they had the best goals for and against records in round one of postseason activity.
Sioux City, which won the regular season USHL title with a 29-16-3 record, has the home advantage in the championship series because the Bucs finished sixth in the seven-team league during the regular season.
After tonight's opener the playoff will resume Friday night in Des Moines. Game 3 is scheduled Saturday night in Sioux City, with the series returning to the Des Moines Ice Arena, if necessary, April 2. A final game, if needed, will be played April 3 in Sioux City.
Tickets for the games in Des Moines may be purchased at the Ice Arena. Prices are $5 for reserved seats, $4 for general admission and $2 for students.
Bucs officials are arranging to have a bus take fans to Saturday night's game in Sioux City. The cost will be $20 per person. For information, call the Ice Arena at 278-9757.
Des Moines will have one all-star defenseman out of the lineup tonight and another in less than perfect condition, but Coach Ivan Prediger said his Bucs are ready to play. Sioux City held a 5-2-1 regular-season advantage.
The Bucs won, 7-6, here Jan. 27 in regulation time and by the same score in overtime on Feb. 26.
Des Moines then upset the Musketeers, 5-2, here March 10 in the playoff opener and logged their first winning month of the season with a 5-3 record for March.
"Playoffs come from the heart," said Prediger. "During February and March we were as good as any club in the league."
Prediger attributes the recent success to an improved defense, better forechecking and the sometimes dazzling play of goalie Mark Pagnac.
"The ability has always been there, but now we have much less individualism," Prediger said. "The players have confidence in each other. They feel, 'Hey, we can't be beat.'
"Goaltending is the difference. Pagnac is the guy that turned it around for us."
Pagnac played in each of the Bucs' first-round games and finished fifth among goalies with a 5.4 goals against average.
Prediger said he plans to start the 18-year-old out of East Grand Forks, Minn., in the nets again tonight.
"Pagnac loves to play in Sioux City," he added. "Even if we lose, he plays well against Sioux City." Sioux City's Doug Spedding, who also played in all round one games, led goalies in the playoffs by allowing only 3.11 goals per game.
While Des Moines' fast skating offense, led by regular-season scoring leader Myles Hart, is ready, the defense is hurting, according to Prediger. He said Scott Lauder will probably be at about "85 percent tonight" and doctors have ruled Greg Shivley out entirely.
Shirley suffered eye and facial injuries Feb. 26. He returned to action in Saturday's 9-7 conquest of St. Paul.
"But the doctor said he has pressure on the eye again and rather then risk further injury, we'll hold him out of Wednesday night's game," said Prediger.
Hart and Sioux City's Brian Williams tied for individual scoring honors in the playoffs. Each had six goals and 12 points.
Des Moines Bill Ries and Tom Miller tied for fourth in the round one scoring race with 11 points and teammate Scott Rupp had 10.
KCBC will broadcast tonight's game.
Championship Series
TONIGHT'S GAME
Des Moines at Sioux City
FRIDAY NIGHT'S GAME
Sioux City at Des Moines
APRIL 2 (if necessary)
Sioux City at Des Moines
APRIL 3 (if necessary)
Des Moines at Sioux City