Game One Effort..Just Ok
- The Kelowna Rockets earned a 4-2 win over the Kamloops Blazers Friday night, but the home team shouldn't be jumping for joy over the game one win. The effort was good enough for the victory, yet it appeared that the home team was willing to expend only enough energy to earn the win.
- The Rockets appeared to be nervous at the puck drop and the more relaxed Blazers took the play to them in the first period. Despite being out-shot 8-6 in the opening frame, the Blazers had the better jump and the better scoring chances.
- The Rockets deserve credit for bouncing back despite giving up the first goal. Four straight goals gave the home team a 4-1 lead before the Blazers closed out the scoring to make it a 4-2 final.
- Jamie Benn had three assists in the win. Tyson Barrie and Colin Long each chipped in with a goal and an assist.
- The Blazers receive a solid effort from Kenton Dulle, Tyler Shattock and Scott Wasden. It's those core players that need to be difference makers for the Blazers to have a chance in this series.
- The best Rocket was the games first start, Tyler Myers. Myers logged close to 25 minutes of ice time and made several great rushes with the puck and made as many solid defensive decisions. Myers was the best player on the ice.
- Mark Guggenberger didn't look good on the Blazers opening goal, yet made solid saves off of Kenton Dulle and Tyler Shattock. Guggenberger's save off of Shattock came when the Rockets had a 3-1 lead. It's those saves, even when the game isn't necessarily in doubt, that make a huge difference between a win and a loss. If Guggenberger gives up a goal in a two goal game, the Blazer are just a shot away from tying the score.
- You take it foregranted until you see the empty seats. The game one crowd of just over 5 thousand left several seats empty. It was an odd sight for a building that is always sold out. It's anticipated that close to 1 thousand seats will also be empty for game two tonight. Not even a close rival is enough to fill the building on a Friday night.
- It was a pleasure to meet relatives of Mitchell Callahan and Ryley Grantham following Friday's game. I ran into both parties at the post game show at Manhattan Point restaurant. Callahan's relatives came all the way from Toronto to take in the game while Grantham's relatives, including his niece if I am not mistaken, took in the game after traveling to Kelowna from Hanna Alberta.
26 comments:
Regan I've heard from alot of people the reason their staying away is the $22 price tag for regular seats, I'm not sure what the Club Seat pricing is but it will be substantially more, & if you noticed they were the one's lacking most of the body's. In these times people are really watching what they spend on entertainment. As a season ticket holder I get a break on the pricing but if the Rockets go deep into the playoffs as I hope they do, I'll be going deep into my pocket!!
At looking at the game summaries from all games last night, attendance appears to be down for all the teams, except maybe in "Speedy Creek"
Ugh, Regan it's Shattock, not Shaddock. You'd think after seeing the Blazers and Shattock some 20 + games over the past few years, you would of done your homework.
Thanks KFB. I'll make that correction. Regardless of how you spell his name, he was solid last night.
I mean KBF!
LOL. Seriously though, what did you think of the way the Blazers played? Sounded like it was the best game we've played against Kelowna all year. Spokane or Vancouver would of been a better matchup for us.
I thought the Blazers had good energy and were well prepared for this one. They outworked Kelowna at various times during the game, but again took too many penalties. Yet in saying that, the Blazers need to play a physical game, so walking that fine line can be tough to do. I am going to talk to Barry Smith before the game tonight and get his thoughts on his team play. But my feeling is he can't be that disappointed with what his team gave him in game one.
Thanks for corresponding KBF. I am not immune to being corrected. My wife does it to me all the time!
haha, know how you feel. Don't mind me Regan, I'm just a bitter Blazer fan. 5-36 in the playoffs in the past 10 years. That is just awful. I remember back in 2002 when the Rockets started their run when they knocked off the heavily favoured Blazers in 4 straight.
The Rockets PP has murdered us all year. If we are going to take penalties, we better be prepared to kill them off.
You have passion for your team. In my eyes, that isn't a bad thing.
I have probably more passion than I really should. I can't even listen to the radio in the playoffs for a long period of time. Guess I don't learn haha.
From what Barry said last night in the post game show with Kirk, he said he did not like the way the PP looked, didn't work hard enough getting pucks on the PP. But that he was happy with the effort, but things still need to be fine tuned.
Look at that missed 5 on 3 the Blazers had. They get a goal there and what happens? It's all about capitalizing on chances. Look for both teams to make adjustments, which in essence, should provide for a better game tonight.
I must say, that was a weak display of coaching by Huska on that final face-off. Kamloops sends the goons out, and Huska sends the top line out? You had to know they were planning something.
I truly hope seeing two players mug Jamie Benn and begin punching him in the face opened his eyes to how we need to play in Game 2.
Here's hoping Grantham mugs Wasden off the opening draw and sends a message to the Blazers that we aren't putting up with their pathetic Bush League style of Hockey.
Get the brooms ready, boys.
Jasperoni, haha are you serious? You got the biggest goon in the league in Grantham, who are you to talk about goons? It's cute how in your head you think your precious Rockets are little angels who wouldn't hurt a flea. Too funny. I'm sure Huska has never sent out any of his goons on the same line.
I never once said we were little angels, or that we don't have the biggest and meanest enforcer in the Dub. I said we have enough fire power to crush the Blazers not only on the scoreboard, but on the ice. So why aren't we using it?
And face facts, Kamloops is horrible in comparison to Kelowna. All you guys have done for the last 10 games is try to take Benn/Backlund out and watched as Kelowna walked away with the victory.
Better start dropping some resumes off at the pulp mill, the end is near (again), Blazers.
Jasperoni, boy I wonder why Rocket fans have such bad reputations for being whiney, poor winners/losers. Compared to Kelowna, definetly they haven't looked good. Still got a good hockey team in Kamloops. You better enjoy it, because next season Kelowna will be basement bound while Kamloops will continue to climb the standings.
"You better enjoy it, because next season Kelowna will be basement bound while Kamloops will continue to climb the standings."
Funny, Blazers fans have been saying that for the past 10 years.
Time to get used to obscurity.
How strong do you think you're going to be with no Benn, Long, Almond, Backlund, Myers, Grantham, Duval, Dowzak? This was a one year deal for the Rockets, and then it's rebuild time again.
Jasperoni I agree Huska is out to lunch. Everybody in the building could see the last grouping was for trouble except for him. So Gogol Callahan and Grantham sit and watch ...lose some studs and the calls for his head will be loud where I sit....And KBF you are right . Huge personnel losses next year....
if you consider rebuilding with Kyle St. Denis, L. and E. Bloodoff, Colin Bowman, Tyson Barrie, Brandon McMillan, Mitchell Callahan, Adam Brown, Mark Guggenburger, as well as Getting Shane McColgan and Possibly Luke Moffat, then...well...I just LOL if you consider that a rebuild
Jared, you're losing your top 2 lines. You guys won't be awful by any means. But you will not be picked, or expected to do what you've done this year. I really like Callahan, btw. Kid is gonna be a talent. And Moffat, don't count on him joining the Rockets anytime soon.
Kamloops needs to add some actual defenceman. And if they do, they are going to be tough as they only lose Dulle, Compton and Wasden next year.
I'll expect Moffat just as I expected Backlund :)
Jared hit it on the head with his comment.
There is no guarantee we will lose ALL of those named players. I actually think there is a good shot we get one or two of Almond, Long or Myers back.
Long has almost 200 points in 2 seasons. He won't be back. He'll be in San Antonio in the AHL. Almond, he's a possibility. And Myers, if that guy plays in training camp with the Sabres next year the way he has all year, he'll be gone. Benn almost made Dallas, and will either be there or wherever their farm team will be in the AHL. Backlund will be with Calgary or Abbotsford, wherever they'll be in the AHL.
I think it'll be a solid season next year as a "rebuilding season" probably not a contender...but they wont be in the basement!
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