View Full Version : Kal Tire WHL Western Conference Semi-Final
TRI-CITY vs. KELOWNA
Kelowna @ Tri-City Friday, April 2 7:05
Kelowna @ Tri-City Saturday, April 3 7:05
Tri-City @ Kelowna Tuesday, April 6 7:00
Tri-City @ Kelowna Wednesday, April 7 7:00
Kelowna @ Tri-City Friday, April 9 7:05
Tri-City @ Kelowna Sunday, April 11 5:00
Kelowna @ Tri-City Tuesday, April 13 7:05
By Doyle Potenteau
Ryan Huska said his team was in for a tough fight against the Tri-City Americans. Turns out he was right. Literally.
In a game featuring two fights, plus two game-deciding goals just 25 seconds apart early in the third period, the Americans held off the Kelowna Rockets 5-3 in WHL playoff action at Kennewick, Wash., on Friday night. With the win, Tri-City took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series, which resumes tonight with Game 2, also at the Toyota Center.
“It wasn‘t the best game that our team has played,” said Huska, Kelowna‘s head coach. “We had too many mental mistakes that Tri-City ended up capitalizing on. We need to eliminate some of those mistakes and get right back at it.”
Brandon McMillan had a goal and two assists for Kelowna, while Geordie Wudrick, with his ninth goal of the playoffs, and Lucas Bloodoff, with his third, also lit the lamp.
Tyler Schmidt, Justin Feser, Adam Hughesman, Sergei Drozd and Johnny Lazo scored for Tri-City, which gave up the game‘s first goal just 43 seconds into the game to Wudrick. The hosts replied with two goals, at 7:45 and 15:18 of the first, with Bloodoff levelling the score at 2-2 on the power play at 19:57.
After a scoreless second, the Ams punched two quick ones home to take a 4-2 lead, Hughesman at 4:21 on the power play and Drozd at 4:46. McMillan and Lazo traded goals in what was a rough final frame, with two fights and 70 penalty minutes.
In last year‘s playoffs, the Rockets manhandled the Americans in six games. This time around, it looks like Tri-City has some bite to its game.
“No, not at all,” Huska said when asked if he was surprised at Tri-City‘s pushback. “That‘s something we expect at this time of the year. It‘s important for us just to stick with it and keep it up for as long as we can in this series.”
Mark Guggenberger had a 38-save effort for Kelowna, while Drew Owsley turned aside 26 shots for Tri-City, which outshot the Rockets 16-8 in the second and 33-19 over the final 40 minutes.
“The second period, they carried the bulk of the play and we were on our heels for a lot of it,” said Huska. “They got a lot of their shots in the second period, but that was part of us not getting pucks in deep and some of those mental errors.”
As for Guggenberger, Huska said he “was good. It was similar to how Adam (Brown) played in our first loss to Everett (5-4 in overtime).”
Asked who‘ll start tonight, Huska wouldn‘t give a firm answer, stating “we‘ll make our decision in the next little while.”
ICE CHIPS: Kelowna was 1-for-2 on the power play, while Tri-City was 1-for-4. The three stars were all Americans: Shinnimin, Zachary Yuen and Hughesman. McMillan was left off the star list despite his game-leading three points.
http://www.kelownadailycourier.ca/stories_local_sports.php?id=254811
By Annie Fowler
Mark Guggenberger watched most of the season from the stands, recovering from a sports hernia. But once the Kelowna Rockets goalie was cleared to play, it didn't take him long to return to form.
Guggenberger stopped 35 of 37 shots Saturday night in helping the Rockets beat the Tri-City Americans 3-2 and even their Western Conference playoff series at one game apiece before a crowd of 3,812 at Toyota Center.
"It's nice to have a split," said Rockets coach Ryan Huska. "When you look at big games on the road, your goalie has to be good, and Mark was tonight."
Games 3 and 4 of the series will be Tuesday and Wednesday at Prospera Place, where the Americans were 2-0 during the regular season.
"This is the time of year when you forget the wins and losses and prepare for the next game," said Tri-City coach Jim Hiller. "Tonight, the physicality of the game wasn't there and they scored on their chances and we didn't. We had plenty of chances."
Kelowna, which has lost eight straight regular-season games at Toyota Center dating back to February 2006, has won the ones that count -- in the playoffs.
Last year, they won a pivotal Game 5 at Toyota Center before closing out the series on home ice in Game 6.
"We lost two here last year in the playoffs, then we lost two in the regular season this year," Guggenberger said. "We came down here looking for a split and we got that."
Tied at 1 after two periods, Lucas Bloodoff gave the Rockets a 2-1 lead at 6:18 of the third, taking advantage of a Tri-City turnover.
"That was just a poor play on our part and they took advantage," Hiller said. "They only had one or two scoring chances in the third and they capitalized."
Brandon McMillan scored an empty net goal at 19:15, which in the end turned out to be the game winner after Brendan Shinnimin scored for Tri-City with 3.3 seconds left in the game.
"They are playing us tough in this series," McMillan said of the Americans. "We expect that to keep going the remainder of the series. It was a tight checking game and we got a good performance from our goalie. Now, we're looking forward to going home."
Sergei Drozd opened the scoring at 2:36 of the first, and even though Brooks Macek was credited with the assist, the Scion of Tri-Cities board behind the net should get one as well.
Drozd backhanded the puck toward the net in the slot, but his shot was wide. The puck bounced off the boards, came back and hit Guggenberger in the skates and rolled over the goal line before Mitchell Chapman could sweep it out.
Kelowna's Spencer Main tied the game at 1-all at 12:15. Drew Owsley stopped a shot by Jessey Astles, but the rebound died at the left post and Main was there for the easy goal at 12:15.
"We're still confident," said Owsley, who finished with 25 saves. "We are trying to stay on even keel. We've had success up there and that helps."
The Americans outshot the Rockets 15-8 in the second period, but couldn't find a way to sneak one past the 6-foot-3 Guggenberger.
The Americans had a goal by Adam Hughesman disallowed five minutes into the second as the net came off its moorings before the puck cross the goal line. Eight minutes later, Hughesman had Guggenberger at his mercy, but was turned away.
"We could have won this game," said Tri-City defenseman Jarrett Toll. "We had a lot of chances. We didn't expect this to be a four or five game series. We have to be ready to play Tuesday in Kelowna."
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2010/04/04/963443/rockets-get-even-tie-series-at.html
By Doyle Potenteau
Drew Owsley didn‘t have much to do on Tuesday night: Corral a few loose pucks and make the odd save. In between those moments, he watched his Tri-City Americans take a 2-1 series lead.
In a game with deceiving statistics, Owsley turned aside 31 shots for Tri-City as the Americans put on a defensive clinic by boxing out the Kelowna Rockets for a 2-0 victory in WHL playoff action at Prospera Place. The Western Conference semifinal series resumes tonight with Game 4 of the best-of-seven set.
Both teams were mildly surprised with the result – the Rockets were stunned at how few second scoring chances they had, while the Americans had to double check the scoreboard after putting up the goose egg.
“We knew they were going to come hard to the net; they did that in the first two games,” said Owsley, a 19-year-old from Lethbridge, Alta. “The big key, I think, was (pushing) rebounds into the corners, and our defence did a great job of boxing out.
“Honestly, I have to credit the team. The guys played really well and didn‘t give them much.
“They did a good job (defensively) and they played a very good road game,” Rockets head coach Ryan Huska said of Tri-City. “On our side, we didn‘t skate. It seemed that it was one of those games where we were content to be average, and that‘s not OK for this time of the season.
“We just weren‘t sharp the way we need to be. Against a good hockey team that‘s playing a good road game, you have to push the envelope by being a little bit more aggressive. The game isn‘t supposed to be easy at this time of the year; it‘s hard, and you have to be willing to play that type of game.
“We didn‘t have nearly enough guys who were skating and playing with that emotion that has to be there.”
Credit Tri-City for that lack of emotion, as the Americans intentionally shied away from the rough stuff, lest they inflame the Rockets.
“It‘s frustrating for the home side because we‘ve been there,” said Americans head coach Jim Hiller, referring to how Kelowna stung his club with a 3-2 win in Game 2 at Kennewick, Wash., on Saturday night. “But I thought it was a pretty good road playoff game for us.”
“(Hiller) has been stressing to stay away from the stuff after the whistle and just to play in-between the whistles,” said Owsley. “We came in and executed a greasy road win.”
Sergei Drozd, with his fifth goal of the post-season, and Johnny Lazo, with his third, scored for Tri-City, which took a 2-1 lead in the Western Conference semifinal series. The best-of-seven set resumes Wednesday night in Kelowna with Game 4. Mark Guggenberger made 22 saves for Kelowna, which trailed 1-0 and 2-0 at the period breaks.
Kelowna was 0-for-4 on the power play, while Tri-City was 0-for-2.
For Kelowna, tonight‘s contest a must-win game. Win, and the Rockets head to Kennewick, Wash., on Friday with an even slate, with Game 6 here next Sunday. Lose and Kelowna gives Tri-City a chance to close out the series on home ice, where the Americans are formidable.
“We couldn‘t find the back of the net, and that‘s just how it goes sometimes,” said Guggenberger. “It was pretty clear we weren‘t getting to the inside tonight, and that‘s definitely part of our game plan: Getting to the net, getting greasy and battling for second chances. We‘re definitely expecting a better effort (tonight).”
ICE CHIPS: The Rockets moved D Tyson Barrie from the blue-line to forward over the last half of the third period to spark a lacklustre offence. Call it a mixed result: Kelowna outshot Tri-City 13-5 in the final frame, but still didn‘t score. “We didn‘t seem to generate much at all tonight, and our second opportunities weren‘t really there,” said Huska. “Tyson is a guy that usually creates when he‘s up the ice.”
Kelowna‘s scratches were C Cody Chikie (shoulder), C Sean Aschim, D MacKenzie Johnston and RW Kyle St. Denis (concussion). Tri-City‘s scratches were LW Neal Prokop (broken leg), D Drydn Dow, D Spencer Humphries, D Riley McIntosh, RW Nils Moser, C Tanner Olstad and C Connor Rankin.
http://www.kelownadailycourier.ca/stories_local_sports.php?id=255549
The Kelowna Rockets found a way to beat Drew Owsley – but not his Tri-City Americans.
Kruise Reddick scored the winning goal midway through the third period and Owsley made 33 saves as the Americans beat the Rockets 3-2 at Prospera Place on Wednesday night.
With the win, Tri-City took a commanding 3-1 series lead in the best-of-seven Western Conference semifinal. Game 5 goes Friday in Kennewick, Wash., and, if necessary, Game 6 would go Sunday in Kelowna.
For the Rockets, it was a difficult loss to digest, having outshot the Americans 35-13 before 5,368 fans. In the end, special teams were the difference, as Reddick‘s winner came on a Tri-City power play, while Kelowna went 1-for-6 with the man advantage.
Aside from Tyson Barrie‘s power-play marker in the second to even the score 1-1, the Rockets struggled to generate scoring chances with the extra attacker, wasting four opportunities in the first period and failing to register a shot on goal during the dying minutes in a 6-on-4 situation.
“It‘s tough,” Rockets head coach Ryan Huska said. “You do rely, at this time of year, on your special teams. And tonight, penalty killing we were OK... but our power play wasn‘t sharp like it needed to be again.”
Tri-City found a way to score on its last of three power-play chances, employing an all-forward unit, which saw Justin Feser set up Reddick for a one-timer that found a way through a screen and past Rockets goalie Mark Guggenberger at 11:51.
That decisive goal came 1:10 after Kelowna‘s Brandon McMillan leveled the score 2-2, corralling a rebound off the endboards and lifting a backhander over a sprawling Owsley.
“It‘s kinda frustrating, but we still have hope in here,” McMillan said. “We were working pretty hard and I thought we had a good effort tonight. But, there‘s definitely some more there, and we gotta find a way to score some more power-play goals.”
After losing 2-0 on Tuesday, the Rockets finally beat Owsley at 9:18 of the second period. Barrie teed up a slapper from between the circles that went bar down through a partial screen to tie the contest 1-1.
But the Americans answered 18 seconds later, when Brock Sutherland, the trailer on a 3-on-2 rush, took a feed just inside Kelowna‘s blue-line and snapped a shot that beat Guggenberger blocker-side to restore Tri-City‘s lead and silence the home crowd.
Barrie‘s goal, though, brought life to the building. It also snapped Owsley‘s shutout streak of 113 minutes dating back to the third period of last Saturday‘s Game 2 in Kennewick, which the Rockets won 3-2.
The Rockets did a better job of generating offence, particularly odd-man rushes, on Wednesday. But Owsley was up to the challenge in earning first-star honours.
“We think we stole one here tonight,” Owsley said. “They had more quality chances today, for sure. (Tuesday), they didn‘t have much for chances, but today, I‘m happy with how I played.”
The Rockets didn‘t look desperate out of the gate last night. In a lacklustre first period that saw Kelowna outshoot Tri-City 6-3, the Rockets were lacking intensity, emotion and cohesion.
Capitalizing on a defensive-zone breakdown, Tri-City defenceman Tyler Schmidt pinched in from the point and tapped in a perfect back-door pass from Patrick Holland at 5:33.
That icebreaker was a wake-up call for Kelowna, which carried the even-strength play for the remainder of the frame.
The Rockets‘ best chance to get on the board came shorthanded when Barrie feathered a pass to Max Adolph on a 2-on-1 rush. Adolph, who was hauled down on the play, got off a weak shot on Owsley, which was stopped, but resulted in a penalty shot.
On the ensuing attempt, Adolph, who had only six goals in 58 regular-season games and is scoreless in 10 playoff contests, deked to the forehand, but lost the handle and flubbed a shot wide.
Prior to that, Owsley flashed the leather to rob Barrie, who walked into the slot and fired a well-placed wrister that Owsley got a piece of with his catching glove – enough to send the puck out of play.
ICE CHIPS: Kelowna‘s scratches were C Cody Chikie (shoulder), RW Jessey Astles, D MacKenzie Johnston and RW Kyle St. Denis (concussion). C Sean Aschim sat out Tuesday‘s Game 3, but dressed in favour of Astles on Wednesday in the lone lineup change for either club. Tri-City‘s scratches were LW Neal Prokop (broken leg), D Drydn Dow, D Spencer Humphries, D Riley McIntosh, RW Nils Moser, C Tanner Olstad and C Connor Rankin.
http://www.kelownadailycourier.ca/stories_local_sports.php?id=255824
By Annie Fowler
Johnny Lazo did not want to get back on the bus for a return trip to Kelowna, British Columbia, and he let his teammates know that.
Lazo backed up his between-periods comment in the dressing room by scoring the game-tying goal, and Kruise Reddick scored the game-winner at 5:37 of overtime to lift the Tri-City Americans to a 4-3 victory Friday over the Kelowna Rockets and a trip to the Western Conference finals before a frenzied crowd of 4,334 at Toyota Center.
"It feels good to leave them behind," said Lazo of the Rockets, who eliminated the Americans from the playoffs last year. "This is amazing. I want to stay here as long as I can. If we can make it to the Memorial Cup in Brandon, that's two hours from home."
The Americans won the best-of-7 series 4-1 and await the winner of the Vancouver-Portland series, which the Giants lead 3-1.
"No question, it was a special night," said Tri-City coach Jim Hiller. "It's nice to close out a series no matter where you are, and in dramatic fashion. We're glad we got to share it with our fans. Give Kelowna credit, they made us look average the first two periods. When we had our backs to the wall, that's when we played our best."
Kelowna, which finished second at the Memorial Cup last year, tied the series at 1 but lost the next three games.
"They are a good hockey team," said Rockets coach Ryan Huska of the Americans. "We had our chances and we had a chance to increase our lead (in the third) with the power play, but that didn't happen."
Kelowna led 3-1 with eight minutes left in regulation after Lucas Bloodoff reached out with his stick as he went to the ice, poking the puck into the net.
Sergei Drozd, who scored the Americans' first goal five minutes into the third, scored his second of the game at 13:44 to pull Tri-City within 3-2, redirecting a shot by Brett Plouffe from the left point.
"He might not be able to tell you, but he's feeling great," Reddick said of Drozd, who still has trouble speaking English.
With time running out, the Americans called their lone timeout with 1:58 to play and pulled goalie Drew Owsley for an extra attacker.
Tri-City returned to the ice with its four top forwards and defensemen Plouffe and Tyler Schmidt.
Brendan Shinnimin sent the puck to the net from the left point and Lazo tried to chop it in at the right post. The puck went out into the slot, where Justin Feser sent it back to Lazo, who found a sliver of daylight between Kelowna goalie Mark Guggenberger and the right post at 18:36.
"I was just banging away," Lazo said. "Luckily, it found its way into the net. This place was amazing. The fans erupted after I scored and after Reddick's goal. Our fans are awesome."
In overtime, the Americans denied the Rockets a shot on goal, while Reddick's blast from the high slot found its way into the net.
"(Jarrett) Toll did a great job along the wall," Reddick said. "He made a between-the-legs pass, and it was luck that it went in."
The Rockets scored first for just the second time in the series as Brandon McMillan scored short-handed at 8:55 of the opening period.
McMillan won a faceoff with Drozd to the left of Owsley and the puck was sent out to Collin Bowman at the left point. Bowman's shot ricocheted off Jordan Messier's skate, and McMillan picked up the loose puck and put it in at the right post.
The Americans had nine shots on goal, including a short-handed breakaway by Lazo with 18 seconds to play in the first, but Guggenberger flopped down on the puck in the crease.
McMillan gave the Rockets a 2-0 lead at 8:13 of the second.
Geordie Wudrick, just out of the penalty box, sent the puck up ice to McMillan, who got behind the defense and went in alone on Owsley. The Americans goaltender went down for a block, but McMillan instead lifted the puck and put it in the upper left corner of the goal.
"All of our older guys I thought were good," Huska said. "We have to make sure we get some of our younger players to that level for future years."
The Rockets outshot the Americans 22-11 in the period, and Tri-City had quality chances, just a bit off the mark.
Defenseman Brock Sutherland rang the puck off the left post just three minutes into the second, while Plouffe did the same exact thing at 15:40.
"It was a tough series," Hiller said. "Low scoring, good hockey and well played."
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2010/04/10/971088/ams-earn-western-showdown.html
By Regan Bartel
Lucas Bloodoff's goal with 7:56 left in regulation time should have sent the Kelowna Rockets second round playoff series back to Prospera Place for a game six, but the Tri City Americans had other ideas. Down by two goals late in the game, the Americans scored twice, including the tying goal with the goaltender pulled with 1:24 left in regulation time. Then in overtime, forward Kruise Reddick scored the game winning goal with a blast from just inside the blue line that beats goaltender Mark Guggenberger between the legs. Game over. Series over.
You won't have success without secondary scoring, and the Rockets found that out first hand in this series. The line of Lucas Bloodoff, Brandon McMillan and Geordie Wudrick were in on all three goals in the game five loss. In fact, of the 11 goals scored in the series by the Rockets, that line combined to score nine of them.
Who was the best player on the ice in game five? He wasn't granted a star, but Brandon McMillan ended his junior career with a terrific performance. McMillan scored once shorthanded, had an even strength breakaway goal, and set up Lucas Bloodoff's third period goal to make it 3-1. McMillan will probably be playing his 20 year-old season in the Anaheim Ducks organization next season. His final game in a Rockets uniform was lights out.
Mark Guggenberger proved that he indeed comes to play in the playoffs. The 21 year-old goaltender was again sharp and can't be blamed for allowing the game winning goal. Reddick moves away from a sliding Brett Bulmer before walking into a slap shot that goes through Guggenberger's legs. Reddick is the hero for a second straight game after also scoring the winner on the power play in game four.
Lucas Bloodoff's final game with the Rockets was a memorable one. The Rockets captain had three goals in the series, none more impressive then his diving stab at a puck in game five that was sent towards the goal by line mate Brandon McMillan. If the Rockets rookies can take one thing away from Bloodoff's performance in the playoffs, it was his work ethic.
As good as the Rockets power play was during the regular season, it struggled in the playoffs. While it showed signs of improving in an opening round series against Everett, it went totally flat against Tri City. In the five games against the Americans it went 2 for 19. That's good for an efficiency rate of just 10.5%. In game five the Rockets were granted a 5 on 3 in the second period but were unable to score. It could have been a difference maker in the series, but failed to manufacture a goal in three of the last four games of the series.
http://reganbartel.blogspot.com/2010/04/seven-minutes-and-56-seconds-away-from.html
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