Huska’s discontent obvious against Winter Hawks

[Malc]

By Doyle Potenteau

Head coach Ryan Huska didn't have much to say after Kurtis Mucha stared down his Kelowna Rockets. Despite a third-period hat trick by Jamie Benn, the Rockets stumbled early in what was a lacklustre 4-3 road loss to the Portland Winter Hawks in WHL action on Monday afternoon. Kelowna outshot Portland 42-22, yet Mucha kept the visitors at bay with a 39-save effort. While Mucha was good, the Rockets weren't, especially for the first 40 minutes against the league's second-worst team. Also not good: Kelowna's one-for-nine effort on the power play.

"We weren't very good anywhere," said Huska, whose team had its season-high six-game winning streak come to an end.

The Rockets were 9-0-1-1 in their past 11 games heading into Portland.
"Our power play wasn't good... we struggled basically with everything," continued Huska. "Even in the third, we were just OK. But by then, it was too little, too late."

Benn's goals for Kelowna (35-20-1-2) were his 37th, 38th and 39th goals of the season. Stepan Novotny, Colin Long, Mikael Backlund and Tysen Dowzak, with assists, also reached the scoresheet for the Rockets, who entertain the Chilliwack Bruins (14-40-2-4) on Wednesday night. Mark Guggenberger and Adam Brown split the netminding chores for Kelowna. Guggenberger started, but was pulled after 45 minutes when Sawyer Mick made it 4-1 for the hosts. Brown was perfect in relief, stopping the three shots he faced in 13 minutes of action. Luke Walker, with two, Colin Reddin and Mick scored for Portland (15-38-2-2), which led 1-0 and 2-0 at the period breaks before a goal-filled third that saw the two teams combine for five goals. With the win, the Hawks now lead their four-game season series with Kelowna at 2-0-0-1. Portland's loss to the Rockets was a 5-4 shootout decision in Kelowna on Jan. 9.

Up next for the Rockets tomorrow night is the league's worst team, the Bruins. Chilliwack has the fewest goals in the league at 125 – seven fewer than Portland's 136 and considerably less than Kelowna's 214 – and is 1-4 against Kelowna this season, including three shutout losses. But before you can say whitewash, the supposedly struggling Hawks, 3-6-1-0 in their past 10 games, put up four against the Rockets.

"This is a game we need," said Huska. "We need to come out with urgency and fire, and we didn't have nearly enough of that (against Portland). We only had a couple of forwards who were good, and our defence and backend was average at best.

"We need to regroup and get going again because we don't have much time between games."

ICE CHIPS: Kelowna scratched D Kyle Verdino and D Curt Gogol... Kelowna was 1-for-9 on the power play; Portland was 2-for-4... The three stars were Walker, Benn and Portland D Travis Ehrhardt, who had three assists... Benn's hat trick was his third three-goal effort of the season... The Rockets are now 8-1-1-0 in their past 10 games... Kelowna's home record is 27-7-0-0, while Chilliwack's road record is 5-22-0-3... The Bruins have lost their past 10 games. But 11 games ago, Chilliwack posted a 5-4 shootout win on home ice over Kelowna... In 2009, the Bruins are 3-15-0-2 and have been outscored 86-41. In their past 10 games, Chilliwack has been shutout three times, consecutively, and has been outscored 39-10... While Portland may only have 15 wins, the Hawks have a remarkable 8-0-1-0 record when leading after two periods. Kelowna's record when leading after two periods is 23-2-0-1... The Rockets are 20-1 when leading after 20 minutes.

http://www.kelownadailycourier.ca/stories_local_sports.php?id=165432

[Malc]

By Regan Bartel

Not even good teams can get away with playing urgent hockey for just one period. The Kelowna Rockets' learned that the hard way Monday afternoon in a 4-3 loss to the last place Portland Winter Hawks. The Rockets, trailing 3-0 early in the third, found a spark when forward Jamie Benn literally took matters into his own hands and almost single handily led the Rockets to a come-from-behind win. But the damage was just too great, as the Hawks won for just the 15th time this season.

How much will the Rockets be kicking themselves if they indeed lose out to Spokane by a single point for third place in the Western Conference standings? Let's hope they don't have to look back at this game as the reason why they are unable to have the luxury of home ice advantage in round two.

The Rockets have to be aware that they now have a target on them, much like Vancouver, Tri City and Spokane have had all season long. You can't take a night off as teams are bringing their best in an attempt to compete and knock you off your perch. The Giants face that every day. The Rockets are just realizing it now.

Does it make the Rockets feel better that the Hawks have beaten Tri City three times and Spokane twice this season?

The Rockets generated 31 shots towards Hawks goaltender Kurtis Mucha through 40 minutes, but the majority were outside shots or one time chances. Secondary shots on goal were few and far between.

The Rockets did hit a few posts, including a backhander from defenseman Tyson Barrie that grazed the post before deflecting into the corner. But as coach Huska often preaches, those breaks go in if you are working hard.

Mark Guggenberger's return to Portland wasn't one he will write home about. Guggenberger, who started his career with the Hawks, was pulled after giving up 4 goals on 19 shots. Adam Brown came into the game in the third period with his team down 4-1 and made 3 saves the rest of the way as the Rockets poured on the pressure to send the game into overtime.

Benn's hattrick was his third of the season. Benn also turned the trick against Lethbridge and Kamloops.

Sure the Rockets were playing their third game in four night's, but to play essentially a non-playoff team in that third game and losing is hard to swallow. No, the Hawks are not officially eliminated from the playoff picture, but it will take a collapse by Prince George and miraculous play by the Hawks in order for them to compete in the second season in late March.

Following Wednesday's home game against Chilliwack, I think we will get a better indication of the makeup of this Rockets team. Winning at home is one thing, digging deep and winning hockey games on the road is another animal. The Rockets open a six game road trip Friday.

http://reganbartel.blogspot.com/2009/02/intensity-for-20-minutes-wont-cut-it.html

[Pete76]

Don't worry about Spokane, you will be competing with Tri-Cities for the 3rd seed:)