‘Split’ crucial in short series

Tim Graham

Thursday, April 16, 1998 | 7:49 a.m.

Every game is important in the postseason. But no game is more crucial than the first one in a best-of-5 series.

The Las Vegas Thunder encounters that situation Friday at 7 p.m. when it opens the IHL Western Conference quarterfinals on the road against the Long Beach Ice Dogs.

Game 2 will take place at the Long Beach Ice Arena at 4 p.m Sunday. The series comes to the Thomas & Mack Center April 24 and, if necessary, April 25. If a decisive Game 5 is required, it will happen in Long Beach April 27.

"In a short series," Thunder head coach Clint Malarchuk said, "the first game is very important. We gotta come out of Long Beach at least with a split. That's what our goal is.

"The first game is a big one."

Splitting the first two games in Long Beach would take the home-ice advantage from the Ice Dogs, who won the Huber Trophy as the IHL's regular-season champion.

John Van Boxmeer, who guided the Ice Dogs to a 53-20-9 record this season, said the visiting team always comes in just looking for a split. He added that the first few games of the postseason are prime opportunities for underdogs to pounce, even the 33-39-10 Thunder.

"The early rounds are even more difficult than the later rounds," Van Boxmeer said. "As the playoffs go on, the playoff mentality grows. But in the early going it's hard to go from your season ending to the playoffs.

"You automatically want to kick it up a notch, but it doesn't always happen."

In last year's eight quarterfinal series, five of the teams that won their first games advanced to the conference semifinals. Three teams swept, including the Houston Aeros over the Thunder.

In 1996, however, only half of the teams that won their playoff openers moved on, indicating that talent usually does overcome early success -- but not always.

A victory in Game 1 can do wonders for a team's confidence.

"You lose the first game, whoever loses, all of the sudden the pressure's on," Long Beach defenseman Dan Lambert said.

"The first game is key. It's not the be all and end all, but it definitely can give a team a lot of momentum."

Thunderbolts

* THE WAITING: It's the hardest part, but the Las Vegas Thunder and IHL remain in suspense over the eligibility of studly center Petr Nedved. Arbitrator Norman Brand, who heard arguments from both sides Tuesday, did not render his binding verdict Wednesday. He reserved the right to wait until 5 p.m. today.

* MR. BIG BUCKS: Thunder part-owner Ken Stickney won't say how much he is paying Nedved for his services down the homestretch. Stickney did admit that Nedved does not come cheap. "Over the course of a few games it's not that much, relatively," Stickney said. "But certainly, prorated over an entire season, he would be well paid." According to Stickney, over an entire 82-game schedule Nedved would be the team's highest-paid player, surpassing right wing Patrice Lefebvre's $100,000-a-year salary.

* LOOSE PUCKS: Las Vegas did not beat Long Beach in regulation all season, going 2-11-1. The Ice Dogs averaged 4.3 goals to the Thunder's 2.1. ... In four games against the Ice Dogs, Thunder goaltender Manny Legace is 0-3-0 with a 6.21 goals-against average and a .862 save percentage. Counterpart Kay Whitmore went 8-0-0 with a 2.25 GAA and a .904 save percentage. ... Ice Dogs left wing Patrik Augusta recorded eight goals and nine assists against the Thunder. Lefebvre had five goals and 10 assists. ... The Thunder leaves for Long Beach tonight.