Fire Ants Advance To Second Round

Philadelphia - Seldom does one win a playoff series in five games but still find themselves in a dour mood. Such was the case, however, with Fire Ants head coach Ken Baumgartner today.

"The Bomber" was putting his victorious team through a gruelling practice this morning and was in a notoriously foul mood. Drill after drill had the Ants on the brink of exhaustion, but for good reason, argues Baumgartner.

"We won, but we won't win the next round if we play like we did," he growled.

Despite having lost only one game to the Hamburg Gladiators, this does not accurately represent how close the series really was. Each game was won by a one goal margin, save the last which the Ants won by two - but only after blowing a four-goal lead in the third period. Much of the blame has rested squarely on the shoulders of goalie Cam Ward, whose periodic inconsistancy has followed him from the regular season into the playoffs. His unspectacular 3.03 GAA and 0.861 save percentage hasn't exactly inspired confidence.

"He was not making the saves he needed to," barked Baumgartner, "we know he is better than this, so the focus now is getting him settled down and back into a rhythym."

Ward, however, is not the only target for criticism. Rookie sensations Loui Eriksson and Bobby Ryan, who notched a total of 69 goals in the regular season, combined for just one between them in the first round. Team defence - particularly under pressure - has not always been up to par.

"We can't keep giving up goals in the third period and expect to win the Cup," said defenceman Duncan Keith, "we've gotta keep our heads in the game. With players like the Sedins ready to pounce on our mistakes, we were just lucky to make it past Hamburg."

"Luck doesn't win championships," interjected Mathieu Schneider, who won a Cup with Acadia during their historic 16-0 run, "effort does."

Hopefully, that effort will be there in round two.