Rockets 5 @ Giants 2 - Oct 21
Well, as has been mentioned not a good game tonight for the Giants. They looked good in the 1st period, easily outplayed the Rockets in that period. After that, who knows what the heck went on, but it looked to me like the Giants were more interested in trying to get into fights with Rockets than play the game. A total mental collapse by the Giants tonight which ended up costing the game. Slade looked like he was overplaying the puck all night.
NOTES
Voytechuk and Reese made it into the lineup after their injuries of the last few days.
Albers left after period one with a shoulder injury and did not return.
Shots were 30-20 for the Giants.
PP were 0/5 for Kelowna and 0/7 for the Giants. 1 SHG for the Rockets.
Mikkelson dressed for his first Giants game, wearing #22.
GOALS
1. VAN Lamb, (4) (Kraus, Watt), 3:50 Kraus gets the shot on net with a little rebound, that Lamb manages to jam under Westbloom.
2. KEL Bodie, (10) (Reinholt, Comeau), 8:41 I am not 100% on this one but I do believe the shot Reinholt came off the back of the boards to Bodie in front of the net, and then he just tucked it in?
2. KEL Almond, (1) (Howarth, Blatchford), 11:56 - Howarth lets the shot go, big rebound to Almond who puts it into the the open cage.
2. KEL Bodie, (11) (Comeau, Blatchford), 12:03 (SH) Comeau flips the puck into the Neutral zone to a streaking Bodie who gets the puck for a clear break-away - Top Shelf Glove side goal from the circle.
2. KEL MacRae, (1) (Ofukany, Edler), 19:26 Festerling lets Ofukany come out of the corner, passes it to MacRae who is left uncovered by Franson in front of the net for yet another easy goal.
3. VAN Bartley, (5) (Kraus, Repik), 4:36 Kraus fires a pass across the goal to Bartley who puts it high into the net on a diving Westbloom.
3. KEL Howarth, (2) (Dowzak, Edler), 16:52 Dowzak gets a shot onto the net, rebound sitting just outside the crease, Howarth gets to it and tucks it under Slade, 5 Hole.
FISTICUFFS
FISTRIC and BAUER- Well they didn't get Fighting majors, but any time One guy drops the gloves and feeds another Uppercuts, I call that fighting. Guess that is more an officiating thing, I'll get into that Later. Bauer Runs Slade at the end of the period, Fistric gives him a crosscheck for good measure, after Bauer gets up they discuss things Fistric drops the gloves and Bauer just covers up. Fistric gets a few Uppercuts in, but the Refs get in pretty quick. Fistric got a double minor for Roughing and Bauer got 2 for Roughing...
WATT and ANDERSON- After the 5th Kelowna goal, Watt and Anderson talk at the Faceoff and it is obvious they will go. Maybe because Watt has been looking for a dance partner all night.... Puck Drops, Gloves off, JD goes to remove the lid and Anderson keeps his on and just starts throwing for dear life. JD Gets his positioning after a while, gets Anderson's Lid off, starts to get the jersy over his head, and feeds a couple. Just as he is about to put a real beating on Anderson the Linesman jump in and break it up. Watt and the fans at the Coliseum were not happy. Watt gets the extra 10 for saying how upset he was that the Linesman broke it up early. WIN WATT.
Maybe its just me, but someone better explain to Anderson, that when you agree to a fight at a faceoff, the honourable thing to do is to take off your helmet. He is very lucky the linesman broke it up before Watt Tore him apart.
OFFICIATING
Klein tonight. Terrible. Does not understand Intereference, does not watch the behind the play garbage, it was pathetic. How Fistric only got a double minor for Roughing after pounding on Bauer is beyond reason. How Bauer didnt get a goaltender interference call on that play or how Fistric didnt get 2 for crosschecking ( Bauer was flat on his back and Fistric just drove him) is a mystery. If I had his email address I would email him a link to the rules.
GRADE: D.
One other note - I think the players have figured out that the refs are not paying attention to the behind the play stuff because the play is moving so fast up the ice. The refs are going to have to figure out how to watch it or it could get very ugly behind the play.
PLEASE TAKE THE TARGET OFF ME AWARD
Kraus Falls down in the kelowna zone right in the slot, we think there was a high stick that sent him down, and then takes a shot from the point right off the top of the helmet. Went off right after that but did come back.
DUMB PENALTY OF THE NIGHT
Machachek 10 Mins. Miscounduct. I believe it was for lipping off. Stupid penalty to take.
OVERALL
Vancouver played great in the first and if they had kept it up, they would have won this game. Completely and utterly fell apart in the second. I don't know what happened to make them lose their focus so much but it was pathetic. They did make a bit of a comeback in the third, but they were all still too interested in getting into fights as opposed to playing Hockey. Slades' postioning tonight was awful and he let out a lot of very big rebounds. Could have been even worse IMO.
Here is a small tip for the Giants - the Rockets are not going to fight you. They want you off your game, it makes their job easier if you are just looking for revenge instead of winning.
The Giants are going to have to focus on playing the game tonight or it is going to be another shellacking for Kelowna and 11 in a row for them.
3 Stars
1. KEL - 29 Troy Bodie
2. KEL - 30 Kristofer Westblom
3. VAN - 12 Tim Kraus
RETIRED JERSEY: #32 CHAD SCHARFF