Bullfrogs, Laurie Eye Conference Finals

The Bullfrogs hope to continue to ride the hot goaltending of Rob Laurie in the Western Conference finals when they open their Roller Hockey International playoff series against the San Jose Rhinos at 7:35 tonight in San Jose.

Laurie has been spectacular in the Bullfrogs’ series victories over the Blades and San Diego Barracudas.

In the first-round series against the Blades, Laurie recorded the only shutout in RHI playoff history in the Bullfrogs’ 3-0 mini-game victory. Over parts of three games and two playoff series, Laurie went 56 minutes 54 seconds without allowing a goal. He has a 5.00 goals-against average and an 88% save percentage this season.

Laurie and the Bullfrog defense will try to contain forward Mark Woolf, who leads the Rhinos with seven goals and eight assists in the playoffs and had big games against the Bullfrogs in the regular season. Darren Colbourne, Woolf’s linemate, has six goals and three assists in the playoffs.

The Bullfrogs should have an advantage in the penalty phase of the game. San Jose was the RHI’s most penalized team with 819 penalty minutes. The Bullfrogs led the league in power-play goals in the regular season.

The Bullfrog power play is scoring at a 68% rate in the playoffs, which is tops in the league. San Jose defenseman Denny Purdie was second in the RHI in penalty minutes with 102 and forward Jay Murphy (97 PIM) was fourth. Meanwhile, Anaheim was the least penalized team (518 PIM).

The Bullfrogs will continue to rely on the offensive firepower of Victor Gervais, who leads the team with 78 points (23 goals, 55 assists). Gervais was the first-round series MVP against the Blades. Player-assistant coach Brad McCaughey has picked up his play in the playoffs. He is on a five-game scoring streak and he had two goals and four assists in Sunday’s victory over San Diego.

Game 2 of the series will be Saturday night at 7:30 at The Pond of Anaheim.