Verner looking forward to short, sharp shock

Mar 28 2009 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal

ANDREW Verner is used to play-offs being long, drawn-out affairs, so the Elite League’s top netminder is looking forward to the short, sharp shock of the British version.

It is not that the Canadian is desperate for a rest after a season in which he has been chronically over-worked, but because he believes it is better suited to his depleted Vipers team. They travel to Coventry Blaze today for the first leg of their play-off quarter-final, with the return at Newcastle Arena tomorrow.

On the face of it the Vipers, seventh in the regular season, should have no chance against the second-placed Blaze. But they beat Coventry for the first time last week and Verner thinks the play-off format is to their advantage.

“Usually if you’ve played four games in the play-offs you’ve been swept in the first round,” said Verner, who joined from the Austrian league in the summer. “Here, if you’ve played four games and won the last one, you’re play-off champions. This is built for our team more than the regular season is.

“It’s tough to keep a consistently high level of play with 10 guys. But over a weekend, you can probably do it.”

Despite one of the lowest budgets in the division, the Vipers have made it to three out of four play-off finals weekends since joining the Elite League. Victory this weekend would allow Verner to experience the carnival atmosphere of British ice hockey’s showpiece.

“I heard the finals weekend is pretty special,” said the 36-year-old. “It’s not a bad idea really. I don’t think there’s anything like it anywhere else in Europe. I want to experience finals weekend for the first time. Sure, why not? I’m going to be here until the end of April anyway so instead of hanging on at home I’d rather be playing for one more weekend.”

Verner has been the Vipers’ outstanding performer this term, prompting interest from Coventry and Sheffield Steelers. If his team win the play-offs, it will be through miserly defence rather than free-flowing ice hockey.

“There’s no mystery in how we’re going to have to beat them. We’ll have to be very efficient offensively and give up no more than two goals a game.

“If we get through the first period we have guys like Eddie (Courtenay), Hutchy (Jeff Hutchins) and Lobby (David Longstaff) who can pull a goal out of nothing. Come play-off time, especially in other leagues where it’s a long, drawn-out process, you need goaltenders.

“With the dynamic of our team, we don’t generate a ton of offence. We’re not going to win 6-5 so the pressure’s on. Over a two-game set if you give up 40 shots a game it’s not that big a deal you can get through it. If it’s over 60 games, it’s a different story. But over a weekend, it’s not that bad.”

Verner admits an outstanding season will count for nothing if it ends tomorrow. “If you’re top-scorer on the last-placed team, do you take anything out of that? I don’t know,” he said. “Some guys probably do and you can go through life like that but late in your career you don’t need to build up your personal stats for your resumé, you’re just trying to win.”

Whitley Warriors host Nottingham Lions tomorrow in the first leg of their English National League North Division One play-off. The return is next Sunday. The winners face Sheffield or Coventry in the Northern final on April 17.