nivek_wahs
02-11-2007, 07:21 AM
http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/news/sports/story.html?id=6b58d685-94d1-4c10-9e7f-9889ab54dc3c
Rowat kept busy in return
Tim Switzer, The Leader-Post
Published: Saturday, February 10, 2007
Welcome back Linden Rowat.
After sitting out two games with a sore back, the Regina Pats goalie returned to the ice Friday to face 33 shots in a 3-0 loss to the Calgary Hitmen at the Brandt Centre.
Rowat didn't even have time to ease into the game with 18 of those shots coming in the first period, the majority during two Calgary powerplays within the first five minutes of the game.
"Anytime they had the chance, they'd throw it on net and get their chances from there," said Rowat. "We didn't come prepared to play the first 10 minutes of the game so that's where we lost our chance to win.
"In the last month we've played a great game where we've been solid defensively and the offence would score in bunches right away. (Friday) was a completely different thing where they got on top of us and completely dominated us from the beginning."
Dan Mercer opened the scoring for Calgary on the powerplay at 4:41 of the first after he one-timed a Freddie Pettersson pass past a sliding Rowat.
Carson McMillan made it a 2-0 game at 13:28 of the first when he took a pass from behind the net and snapped it behind Rowat before the goalie even knew where the puck was.
Calgary's Brodie Dupont closed the scoring when he redirected Keegan Dansereau's point shot at 12:40 of the third period. The on-ice officials briefly discussed whether the puck had gone in off Dupont's skate, but quickly determined it was a goal.
The setback snapped the Pats' streak of eight consecutive games without a regulation-time loss and was just their fifth loss of 2007.
"To me it's a mental error -- just taking them too lightly (and) relying on the fact that we were on a little bit of a roll," said Pats head coach Curtis Hunt.
"We're going to collect ticket prices for the 20 that watched -- except for Rosie -- at least for the first 10 minutes. They just came out and worked us in our own building. Quite frankly, our guys should be embarrassed for that."
Apart from that initial lapse, the Pats looked more like they have during their recent hot streak. Regina (26-24-1-4) limited Calgary to nine shots in the second period, lowered that to six in the third and had a few good scoring chances of its own, but couldn't beat Hitmen goaltender Dan Spence, who finished with 24 saves in the shutout.
The win moves the Hitmen to 30-20-3-4 and keeps them in third place in a very tough Central Division in which the last-place team, the Lethbridge Hurricanes, has more points than do the second-place Pats in the East Division.
"We played a pretty solid road game," said Hitmen head coach Kelly Kisio, whose club meets the East Divison-leading Brandon Wheat Kings today before stopping back in Saskatchewan on the way home for a Sunday tilt with the Swift Current Broncos. "We didn't give Regina many chances and made sure the puck was in deep and forced their (defence) to go back and get it every shift for the most part."
The Pats will need a different look to start their game Sunday when they meet the Wheat Kings, who visit the Brandt Centre for a 6 p.m. start. Regina could have moved within six points of the Wheaties on Friday, but could now be down by 10 points on Sunday should Brandon beat the Hitmen today in the Manitoba city
"If we want a piece of the prize -- and right now the prize-holder is coming in -- then we've got to elevate our game and be ready from the puck drop," said Hunt. "If we want to finish first, we've got to get it done."
SCOUTING REPORT
BRANDON (28-18-2-7)
at REGINA (26-22-1-4)
Sunday, 6 p.m., Brandt Centre
Radio: 620 CKRM
Key Injuries: REGINA -- LW Josh Elder (wrist, indefinite); BRANDON -- D Theran Yeo (wrist, indefinite).
Overview: The Pats can make up a more ground in the race for first place in the East Division in this game. A win could pull Regina within six points of the Wheaties, depending on the outcome of Brandon's home matchup with the Calgary Hitmen today . . . Despite Brandon's superior season record, the Pats have won four of their five meetings this season. The teams play it close, though -- three of those wins have come in shootouts, including a 3-2 triumph in their last meeting Jan. 9 . . . Regina is 7-2-0-1 in its last 10 games and is 17-7-1-2 at home this season. Brandon is 6-3-0-1 in its last 10 and has a 11-14-1-3 road record . . . Brandon is led by Colorado Avalanche draft pick (second round, 59th overall, 2006) Codey Burki (26-37--63, 53 GP) who has already surpassed his season point totals in his previous three WHL campaigns, but only has 10 points in 15 games in 2007 . . . The Wheat Kings are the least penalized team in the league with 961 PIM in 55 games (17.5 per game average) this season. The Pats are well back of that with 1,154.
© The Leader-Post (Regina) 2007
Rowat kept busy in return
Tim Switzer, The Leader-Post
Published: Saturday, February 10, 2007
Welcome back Linden Rowat.
After sitting out two games with a sore back, the Regina Pats goalie returned to the ice Friday to face 33 shots in a 3-0 loss to the Calgary Hitmen at the Brandt Centre.
Rowat didn't even have time to ease into the game with 18 of those shots coming in the first period, the majority during two Calgary powerplays within the first five minutes of the game.
"Anytime they had the chance, they'd throw it on net and get their chances from there," said Rowat. "We didn't come prepared to play the first 10 minutes of the game so that's where we lost our chance to win.
"In the last month we've played a great game where we've been solid defensively and the offence would score in bunches right away. (Friday) was a completely different thing where they got on top of us and completely dominated us from the beginning."
Dan Mercer opened the scoring for Calgary on the powerplay at 4:41 of the first after he one-timed a Freddie Pettersson pass past a sliding Rowat.
Carson McMillan made it a 2-0 game at 13:28 of the first when he took a pass from behind the net and snapped it behind Rowat before the goalie even knew where the puck was.
Calgary's Brodie Dupont closed the scoring when he redirected Keegan Dansereau's point shot at 12:40 of the third period. The on-ice officials briefly discussed whether the puck had gone in off Dupont's skate, but quickly determined it was a goal.
The setback snapped the Pats' streak of eight consecutive games without a regulation-time loss and was just their fifth loss of 2007.
"To me it's a mental error -- just taking them too lightly (and) relying on the fact that we were on a little bit of a roll," said Pats head coach Curtis Hunt.
"We're going to collect ticket prices for the 20 that watched -- except for Rosie -- at least for the first 10 minutes. They just came out and worked us in our own building. Quite frankly, our guys should be embarrassed for that."
Apart from that initial lapse, the Pats looked more like they have during their recent hot streak. Regina (26-24-1-4) limited Calgary to nine shots in the second period, lowered that to six in the third and had a few good scoring chances of its own, but couldn't beat Hitmen goaltender Dan Spence, who finished with 24 saves in the shutout.
The win moves the Hitmen to 30-20-3-4 and keeps them in third place in a very tough Central Division in which the last-place team, the Lethbridge Hurricanes, has more points than do the second-place Pats in the East Division.
"We played a pretty solid road game," said Hitmen head coach Kelly Kisio, whose club meets the East Divison-leading Brandon Wheat Kings today before stopping back in Saskatchewan on the way home for a Sunday tilt with the Swift Current Broncos. "We didn't give Regina many chances and made sure the puck was in deep and forced their (defence) to go back and get it every shift for the most part."
The Pats will need a different look to start their game Sunday when they meet the Wheat Kings, who visit the Brandt Centre for a 6 p.m. start. Regina could have moved within six points of the Wheaties on Friday, but could now be down by 10 points on Sunday should Brandon beat the Hitmen today in the Manitoba city
"If we want a piece of the prize -- and right now the prize-holder is coming in -- then we've got to elevate our game and be ready from the puck drop," said Hunt. "If we want to finish first, we've got to get it done."
SCOUTING REPORT
BRANDON (28-18-2-7)
at REGINA (26-22-1-4)
Sunday, 6 p.m., Brandt Centre
Radio: 620 CKRM
Key Injuries: REGINA -- LW Josh Elder (wrist, indefinite); BRANDON -- D Theran Yeo (wrist, indefinite).
Overview: The Pats can make up a more ground in the race for first place in the East Division in this game. A win could pull Regina within six points of the Wheaties, depending on the outcome of Brandon's home matchup with the Calgary Hitmen today . . . Despite Brandon's superior season record, the Pats have won four of their five meetings this season. The teams play it close, though -- three of those wins have come in shootouts, including a 3-2 triumph in their last meeting Jan. 9 . . . Regina is 7-2-0-1 in its last 10 games and is 17-7-1-2 at home this season. Brandon is 6-3-0-1 in its last 10 and has a 11-14-1-3 road record . . . Brandon is led by Colorado Avalanche draft pick (second round, 59th overall, 2006) Codey Burki (26-37--63, 53 GP) who has already surpassed his season point totals in his previous three WHL campaigns, but only has 10 points in 15 games in 2007 . . . The Wheat Kings are the least penalized team in the league with 961 PIM in 55 games (17.5 per game average) this season. The Pats are well back of that with 1,154.
© The Leader-Post (Regina) 2007