Saturday, April 4, 2009

Third Period Collapse Costly!

  • Was he injured or was he getting a rest? Whatever it was, Tri City Americans captain Taylor Procyshen was the hero for the second straight night after sitting on the bench for the majority of the third watching the game. The twenty year-olds power play goal, with Ian Duval in the penalty box for hooking, was part of a three goal comeback leading the Tri City Americans to a 3-2 win in game two of the Western Conference semi final series with the Kelowna Rockets'.
  • The reason I was pondering if Procyshen was hurt was his lack of ice time in the third period, when traditionally your best players should be out on the ice in a bid to erase a two goal deficit. If Americans head coach Don Nachbaur was saving his captain for the dramatic finish by resting him, he is lights-out the smartest coach in the WHL.
  • The loss was especially hard to take considering the Rockets' had a 2-0 lead after 40 minutes. To give up three-third period goals will not sit well with a coaching staff. It should hurt even more for the players. If it doesn't , something isn't right.
  • Despite a 2-0 lead heading into the third period, I was as uncomfortable as a Hells Angel at a prayer meeting with the Rockets play. They were making two many errors defensively and no less than two of their top veteran players (we won't mention names) were again silent. For the second straight night the Rockets appeared scared to lose the game by sitting back instead of getting the crucial goal to make it 3-0, and in essence, putting the game out of reach.
  • The Rockets were 31-2-0-2 when leading after 40 minutes during the regular season.
  • The Rockets have now lost two straight, the first time they've lost back-to-back games since a 4-3 loss in Portland February 16th followed by a 4-3 shoot-out loss two night's later against Chilliwack.
  • Mikael Backlund returned to the Rockets' lineup, but provided little spark. Backlund spent the majority of the game playing with Jamie Benn.
  • Americans forward Jason Reese sat out game two with a leg injury. Despite failing to have one of their top point getter's from the regular season, the Americans appeared to be more determined than ever to play hard without one of their difference makers.
  • The Americans are clearly playing a harder, smarter game than the Rockets in the opening two games. Despite the 2-0 lead, it was the Americans, not the Rockets, who were generating the more dangerous offensive chances.
  • The Americans were guilty of giving up way more odd man rushes in game two, yet the Rockets were often times unable to convert. Cody Almond's goal to make it 2-0 was the one time that the visitors made the home team pay for a defensive blunder.
  • Game two didn't have the raw emotion that we saw in game one. Their was very little pushing and shoving after the play, and the trash talking wasn't what he expected against two teams that looked like they wanted to poke each others eyes out in game one.
  • The Rockets have now lost 8 straight games in Tri City dating back to February 25, 2006. The Rockets were a 4-3 winner on that night.
  • Shane McColgan's season has come to an end with his midget team in California. McColgan is expected to join the Rockets early next week for the remainder of the season. The question is, do you insert him in the lineup?

11 comments:

bigkev said...

regan have they given up. because it seem like it

Jared Comeau said...

It really feels like they have unraveled at the seams...stupid STUPID penalties.

Regan Bartel said...

Keep the faith. While being down 0-2 may sound grim, home ice is the cure to getting back in the series. If they were playing their best and losing, I would be concerned. The fact of the matter is this team has yet to bring it's 'A' game to the table in the first two games.

MG said...

The only thing that bugs me is hear that Backlund was playing with Benn. why are the lines being mixed up AGAIN !! When
Long Bloodoff and Benn are on a line and
Duval Almond and Backlund are on a line the team wins. We have seen this over and over.

g.k said...

I have to agree with MG Regan, if by the second round of the playoffs you haven't got your line combinations set, there is obviously a lack of chemistry on this team, Long & Benn have been together all season but the rest of lines are always a mystery.

grinder said...

2 goal lead = the worst lead in hockey..... don't give up on the Rockets people. We might question the coaches decision to mix around the lines in the second round of the playoffs????....... The coaching staff should have it figured out by now.

Jared Comeau said...

It''s not a lack of chemistry.

grinder said...

I agree not a lack of chemisty, but a lack of direction with the coaching

hockey dude said...

Hey Regan,
Is it just me or does the team play better when the coaches just roll all four lines? It seems that the bench gets shortened and by the third period the twelve players that they continue to play have no legs left and appear to look drained. I think that the coaches need to take a hard look at the last two games ...........

Regan Bartel said...

I am not sure if last change on the road plays into that? But if you look at the last two games players like Callahan, Evan Bloodoff and Stepan Novotny have been the better players.

Rocketwatcher said...

If you think our coach is in the same league as Hay, Nachbuar, Desjardins, and Lowry you are sadly mistaken. They have demonstrated time after time that rolling the lines and involving every player in the game for the most part is the key to winning. Breaking up lines combinations and running a short bench gives you exactly what we got on Saturday: No legs in the third! Six guys are regular shifted ,PP and PK...what do they have left in the tank?? Thank God Kelowna has the talent not to get blown out, but Huska , in my opinion,is not assessing what it takes to win in the playoffs. And Tri Cities, with less talent, is proof of that.....