- Mark Guggenberger was ready to play. Unfortunately his teammates didn't follow the veteran goaltenders lead. The 21 year-old was again steady, but his Kelowna Rockets teammates looked lacklustre, in a 2-0 loss Tuesday night to the Tri City Americans. The Americans now have a 2-1 lead in the best of seven series heading into game four tonight.
- You know it's a bad sign for the home team when you can pick several names from the visiting team's roster that played well, yet you struggle to find names on who was a bright spot on the Rockets roster. Lucas and Evan Bloodoff showed some jump while Brandon McMillan was noticeable in the final five minutes of the game, but outside of that, the Rockets had too many passengers on this night. If all hands are not on deck, the Rockets can't compete against a high end team like Tri City. They simply can't. Not even Mark Guggenberger can stand on his head and bail his team out after an effort like that.
- Who had a bad game for Tri City? I can't name one guy. From Justin Feser to Jordan Messier, the visitors were really good. Americans goaltender Drew Owsley gets the win and the shutout, but even he will tell you at the end of the night that he has earned more difficult shutouts than he did against the Rockets. Americans head coach Jim Hiller will have a tough time picking apart his team on video after game three. In fact, a 2-0 loss likely flattered the home team.
- The Rockets had three power plays in the third period alone and were unable to score. One power play saw the Rockets called for offside three separate times. What does that tell? Mentally the Rockets weren't there.
- In game two, all three goals the Rockets scored were essentially on the doorstep of the Americans net. The majority of the 31 shots Owsley faced Tuesday night were from long range or from the outside.
- The smallest crowd of the season watched game three. Just over 52 hundred Kelowna Rockets fans took in the game.
- The shutout loss was the Rockets second of the playoffs. The Rockets also lost 4-0 to Everett in game five of an opening round series.
- It marked the first time on home ice that the Rockets have been shutout in a playoff game since a 1-0 loss to the Everett Silvertips in game five of the Western Conference final April 24/04. Jeff Harvey made 22 saves in the win.
- The loss snapped the Rockets unbeaten streak on home ice at three games. The Rockets won all three home games in a seven game series against Everett in the opening round.
- The good news is the Rockets can redeem themselves in game four Wednesday night.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
No intensity won't win you games at this time of year
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6 comments:
Tonight they just seemed to not have it in them. For the most part they were playing sloppy, especially in there own end. Tomorrow they will have 2 fix this or we will be in trouble.
What is with these crowds? It is disappointing to see that for the most part the reg season had over 6000. Now we r seeing just over 5000. Come on Kelowna! Get your butts back in to Prospera place or give your tickets to some 1 else( I am assuming most of the people not coming are season ticket holders.)
It is hard to understand how you can be so flat on such an important game...Is it the coach duty to motivate or light a fire under their collective butts or self motivation should be instant as soon as you step in front of your home crowd...Anxious to see who is gone show up tonight..
...jaz, I know alot of season ticket holders who didn't buy playoff packs because let's face it the Rocket's weren't expected to be here...playoff tickets are a hard sell as a tax write off so basically this means that it is a good opportunity for the rest of Kelowna to get out there and support the team... but I have to admit I shelled out $75. last night for three hrs of lack luster efforts by the boys and I won't be doing it again tonight. Maybe if there's a game six... I'll pay to see outstanding Rockets hockey, but was quite put off last night!
there's a pattern here. all season we'd play 1 good & then take the nite off. the coach or the team shouldn't have to be motivated in playoffs. man l was tired after sitting thru this 1
I know as a long-time TC Ams fan I have wondered myself how can a team perform so good one night, then so flat the next. There are so many variables...like, the opponent stepping up and my team failing to respond. Not getting an occasional bounce and having bounces go against you is another.
I asked Craig West a couple years ago after the Ams fell to Spokane, how could the Ams appear to be so flat and not on their game at such a critical time of the season...he responded (paraphrasing) that it wasnt how bad the Ams played, but how good Spokane played.
If Kelowna can carry over the intensity they brought in the 3rd period I think they can win tonight. But that intensity brings risks and may open the door for the Ams to make odd-man rushes.
Looking forward to the game! Go Ams!
Fratelli you have some good points regarding last nights effort... in the Rockets defence I think we would be remiss if we weren't to point out the fact that the Rockets have no less then 11 rookies on their team (12 if you count Mathesen) who have probably never played a 72 game season before let alone the 85 games ( counting exibition) they've endured this year...especially at this level of physically and mentally challenging hockey... than throw in things like school and travel and I think it's understandable how the odd night off may happen... just saying... tonights' team will be much better or this series is done! Rockets Rule!!
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