Christoffer ends drought
Braden Christoffer wasn’t fussy about how he scored his longawaited first goal of 2014.
“I was hoping something would go off my butt, my head — I didn’t care,” he said.
Christoffer got his wish on Saturday night, taking one off the chest to help propel the Regina Pats to a 7-3 WHL win over the visiting Saskatoon Blades.
The 19-year-old forward was providing a screen on goaltender Troy Trombley when Pats defenceman Jesse Zgraggen floated a long wrist shot toward the net. It grazed the chest of Christoffer and surprised Trombley, snapping a 16-game goal-less streak.
“Thank god it went in,” chuckled Christoffer, who hadn’t scored since Dec. 13 when he notched two goals and an assist in a 5-3 win over Saskatoon.
“One of the hardest things when you’re on a drought is just staying positive and being able to make yourself do the right things every single night. That’s the most important thing, do the same things that have been working for you and (what’s) best for the team. The (end) product is going to come.” It paid off Saturday. After scoring Regina’s fourth goal, Christoffer helped put an exclamation point on the victory late in the third period with a highlight-reel feed to Zgraggen for an easy tap-in goal.
“He’s not a greedy guy,” noted head coach Malcolm Cameron. “He got one tonight and that’s a bonus. He made a heck of a play to Jesse Zgraggen. I think earlier in the year (Christoffer) was trying to press for points because he felt that maybe was the way to get additional ice time. But now he has really, really bought into what he is.
“He gets a ton of ice. Guys understand if they do what they’re told, play their role, stick within our game plan, they’re going to get rewarded for it. It’s the guys who deviate that are going to hurt the team and they’re going to see the blue seats or the pine.”
Christoffer has been a streaky scorer in two seasons with the Pats. As a rookie in 2012-13, he was held to five assists in the first half of the campaign before erupting with 11 goals and four assists after the Christmas break.
Christoffer started slowly again this season, limited to three assists in the first 13 games before notching seven goals and 12 assists in the next 24 contests. That was followed by six straight games without a point before Saturday’s breakthrough.
Much of Christoffer’s offensive production this season has come while playing on one of the Pats’ top lines. However, he has recently found a home on the team’s third unit, along with Patrick D’Amico and Carter Hansen.
Together, they’ve formed an effective checking unit — arguably the team’s most-consistent line over the past few games. Christoffer has embraced his role within the trio, noting that it’s all about making the most of opportunities.
“I know the type of player I am,” he added. “It’s a crash-and-bang style. I’m not going to change. I’m not going to be a 100-point getter but I’m going to be that guy who’s solid for the team and helps out defensively and does what I can for offence.
“(The coaches) have talked to me. They say, ‘You have an important role on this team.’ You have to embrace it and you have to be your best at that role. It’s all about the team.”