Rockets stumble, fumble away two points to Rebels

[Malc]

By Doyle Potenteau

In a season that‘s resembled a roller coaster, the Kelowna Rockets went for a downhill stroll on Friday night.

Landon Ferraro scored and goaltender Darcy Kuemper made 41 saves for Red Deer as the struggling Rebels defeated the Rockets 3-2 in WHL action. The loss was Kelowna‘s third to a losing team in the past two weeks.

“Our best players were on our energy line. And when we only have those guys going, we‘re not going to win games,” said Rockets head coach Ryan Huska, whose team ended a six-year winless drought in Medicine Hat on Wednesday with a 6-1 victory over the Tigers. Tonight, the Rockets close out a three-game Alberta road trip with a 6 p.m. contest against the league-leading Calgary Hitmen (55-7-3-1).

“We didn‘t have much energy from anyone else,” continued Huska. “When we face a good goalie, we have to bear down on our opportunities and be mentally sharp around the net. If we don‘t take chances around the net and hope that pucks are going to go in for us, we‘ll never score goals that way.”

Stepan Novotny, with his 17th goal of the season, and Ian Duval, with his 21st, scored for Kelowna (39-21-1-3) in what was the franchise‘s 1,000th regular-season game since relocating to the Okanagan from Tacoma, Wash., in the summer of 1995. Novotny and Duval also recorded assists on each other‘s goals and were the only two to register points. Adam Brown made 24 saves for Kelowna.

Jordie Deagle and Willie Coetzee, with the game-winning goal early in the third period, also scored for Red Deer (20-34-1-9). With just 50 points, Red Deer has the fourth-worst record, with Portland (36) and Chilliwack (37) at No. 1 and 2 – teams Kelowna lost to recently.

As for visiting the Hitmen, Calgary is nigh unbeatable at home with a 32-2-1-0 record. That includes a 4-3 win over Kelowna on Dec. 14.

Asked what team he thinks will show up in Calgary, Huska said “it‘d better be the good one or we‘re going to get blown out in a hurry. We need our best players to play their best so we can give ourselves an opportunity to win.”

http://www.kelownadailycourier.ca/stories.php?id=168171

[Malc]

By Regan Bartel

If you can answer the question as to why the Kelowna Rockets' can lose to another non-playoff team, you deserve a medal. A 3-2 loss in Red Deer Friday night is nothing short of a mental lapse by a team that can look like a heavy weight champion against the top end teams and look like a 100 pound weakling against the bottom feeders.

I can't buy the fact that the Rockets were road weary or that the Rebels were bound to break out. It marked the third time in 12 days that the Rockets suffered a loss to a team that will undoubtedly miss post season play. Failure to pick up two points leaves the Rockets three points back of Spokane in the fight for third place in the Western Conference.

Stepan Novotny and Ian Duval each had a goal and assist in the Rockets 21st loss of the season.

Who was the best Rocket? Mitchell Callahan will do anything in his ability to contribute, as testament to his two fighting majors in Friday's loss. Callahan now has 17 fighting majors, one better than designated tough guy Ryley Grantham. Grantham has two fights in his last 16 games, Callahan has fights in 7 of his last 10 games.

Did you ever think someone would challenge Scott Parker for the Rockets team record of 25 fighting majors as a 17 year-old? Callahan is just 8 away from tying the mark with 8 games to play. Callahan is now 4th in penalty minutes in the league with 157.

If others played with the same type of determination as Callahan does, these hiccups against Portland, Chilliwack and Red Deer wouldn't happen.

What makes Friday's loss tough to swallow was the Rebels ability to score all three goals on the power play. Coming into last night's game the Rebels hadn't scored a power play goal in four games and were 0 for 19 over that stretch.

Rebels' Darcy Kuemper should get credit for a solid game in goal. The 18 year-old (he won't turn 19 until early March) made some solid saves including a beauty off of Cody Almond in the second period. Yet while Kuemper was solid, a good portion of the Rockets 43 shots were from the outside. I just didn't think the Rockets were hungry enough or desperate enough to get in-tight shots on the Rebels netminder.

You have to like Landon Ferraro. To think this guy has 31 goals as a 17 year-old is impressive, but what type of numbers would he put up with a stronger supporting cast?

The Rockets played this one without leading goal scorer Jamie Benn. Benn stayed back in his hotel room in Calgary. Benn is sick, yet will give it a try tonight when the Rockets close out the road trip in Calgary against the Hitmen.

Calgary Flames Western Scout Ron Sutter took in Friday's game. He likely wouldn't be pleased with Mikael Backlund's play. Backlund took two bad penalties and never was a threat to score. Against a team like Red Deer, the Rockets top end players - Backlund included -should be able to create quality chances in the offensive zone.

Despite the loss, I anticipate the Rockets playing a solid game in Calgary tonight. They would like nothing more than to hand the Hitmen their first loss in 13 games, and get in the way of them moving into the WHL record books by winning their 33rd home game of the season.

I expect Mikael Backlund to play his best game of the season at the Saddledome. He better because Flames GM Darryl Sutter will be watching from the press box.

The Rockets 4 game winning streak came to an end with Friday's loss while the Rebels 6 game losing streak is history.

http://reganbartel.blogspot.com/2009/02/i-just-dont-get-it.html