I was honestly too deflated about the loss last night to write anything right away. Tbirds lose last night 4-3 in Overtime on a fluke (but hard working) goal by Lucas Bloodoff.
I think coach Rob Sumner summarized the effort very well last night by essentially saying that they just didn't play to the level that one needs to play to eliminate a team. Kelowna battled all night to save their season and eventually extended it with the winner.
Seattle did not play poorly and held a 1-0 lead on a goal by Sena Acolatse in the 1st... but they fell behind 2-1 and 3-2 in the game before Greg Scott got an equally fortunate Power Play goal with 27 seconds left to send the game into OT.
On the Internet feed I honestly couldn't see the hit by Brady Leavold on Scott Jackson that resulted in the game tying Power Play for the Tbirds. Regan Bartel, who I think puts a pretty honest spin on things, said the call was poor at best and inexcusable at worst.
So.... it all comes down to Game 7 at the Key on Tuesday. The Tbirds fought hard for the last two months of the season to earn this Game 7 at Key Arena and the two teams have now proven that can win games on home ice.
Game 7's are everything you want to be a part of as an athlete and I would bet that these two teams will give it everything they have on Tuesday night to extend their seasons. One of the great things about Junior Hockey is the finality to the season for the 20 year old players. For them... there is no next season, there is no building for another run. Sure some and maybe most will play beyond this last season of Junior's, but there is something about knowing that this is the last time they will play with this team and these teammates that brings out the best in them. For Benn Olson, Scott Jackson and Ian McKenzie this could be their last game with this team and this franchise. I would be willing to bet those guys will give everything they can to extend this season for a little bit longer.
Hockey Challenge 2014
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3.30.2008
3.28.2008
Spokane moves past Everett
Everett is gone in 4 games, continuing a franchise tradition as Spokane just scored in overtime to send the Everett faithful to the golf course for the season.
Box score found here...
Box score found here...
McEwan gets One Game
After looking out for this all day... I was scooped on this over in the forum.
McEwan gets a one game suspension for last night's buffoonery. Not surprising and likely wouldn't have had an impact on the game anyways.
http://whl.ca/hm/suspensions.php?id=3425
Hickey, Tbirds dominate and take a 3-2 series lead
Seattle finally breaks through with a home ice win and takes a 3-2 lead in the series with Game 6 in Kelowna on Saturday.
Thomas Hickey and Bud Holloway (there you go Kings fans!) led the way for the Tbirds. Captain Hickey with 3 assists and Holloway with 2 goals in the 6-2 victory over the Rockets.
The game started precariously for the Tbirds as Helenius was beaten on the first shot taken by Brady Leavold (having a very good series) just 22 seconds into the game. Colin Long and Jamie Benn (both also having good series') got the assists on the goal.
It took the Tbirds about 7 minutes to answer, but when they did... boy did they answer. Jan Eberle, who has been excellent in the series, got the equalizer at 7:46 of the 1st before Holloway at 9:03 and David Richard (his 5th) at 12:51 gave the Tbirds a 3-1 lead at the end of 1.
They continued to pile on in the 2nd with goals by Prab Rai at 13:51 and Bud Holloway scoring with less than a second left in the period to give Seattle the big 5-1 lead.
Luke Schenn got his 1st playoff goal for the Rockets but it just wasn't enough and Ian McKenzie finished the scoring with 30 seconds left and the 6-2 margin.
Benn Olson then fought Dowzak before James McEwan took a run at goaltender Riku Helenius at the end of the game.
Now... I had to miss the game last night for my own game (I know... I'm a terrible blogger) so it's not totally fair for me to jump all over McEwan.
You guys tell me... how bad was it?
3 Stars of the game:
1. Thomas Hickey
2. Bud Holloway
3. Jan Eberle
Thomas Hickey and Bud Holloway (there you go Kings fans!) led the way for the Tbirds. Captain Hickey with 3 assists and Holloway with 2 goals in the 6-2 victory over the Rockets.
The game started precariously for the Tbirds as Helenius was beaten on the first shot taken by Brady Leavold (having a very good series) just 22 seconds into the game. Colin Long and Jamie Benn (both also having good series') got the assists on the goal.
It took the Tbirds about 7 minutes to answer, but when they did... boy did they answer. Jan Eberle, who has been excellent in the series, got the equalizer at 7:46 of the 1st before Holloway at 9:03 and David Richard (his 5th) at 12:51 gave the Tbirds a 3-1 lead at the end of 1.
They continued to pile on in the 2nd with goals by Prab Rai at 13:51 and Bud Holloway scoring with less than a second left in the period to give Seattle the big 5-1 lead.
Luke Schenn got his 1st playoff goal for the Rockets but it just wasn't enough and Ian McKenzie finished the scoring with 30 seconds left and the 6-2 margin.
Benn Olson then fought Dowzak before James McEwan took a run at goaltender Riku Helenius at the end of the game.
Now... I had to miss the game last night for my own game (I know... I'm a terrible blogger) so it's not totally fair for me to jump all over McEwan.
You guys tell me... how bad was it?
3 Stars of the game:
1. Thomas Hickey
2. Bud Holloway
3. Jan Eberle
3.26.2008
More thoughts on Game 4
-Gutty, Gritty, Huge, Enormous, Scrappy... you name it, the win in Game 4 was it for Seattle.
-This playoff history between the Rockets and Tbirds continues to be strange as the road team has won 10 of the last 11 playoff games between the two teams.
-In my opinion the most important game of any 7 game series is Game 5. Let's look at the situations for Game 5's.
Team A and Team B
A leads B 3-1 and looks to close it out. Obviously if Team A wins the series is over and if Team B wins not only is the series now much closer but the momentum has now shifted where a Game 6 on the road could carry and team back home for Game 7 or if returning home for Game 6 would most likely propel the series to a 7th game.
A and B are tied at 2-2. Here we are in this series. Winner takes a 3-2 lead and has two shots to close it out.
Based on how the road teams have dominated this historical matchup I wouldn't call Game 5 a must win for Seattle, but someone HAS to win a home game and this series might be over in 6 if Seattle could hold serve at home.
-How bad has the officiating been in this series. I have to think that Kelowna isn't very happy about the officiating to this point either, but Seattle is getting killed by the boys in the striped shirts in this series. How and where does an official come up with a penalty shot on that hooking by Seattle in the 3rd period?? Here is hoping that all the poor officiating is over and that these two teams can decide the series by performance and not by phantom Power Plays.
-I really don't understand Brady Leavold. Can I call him Beach Jr. yet? He is obviously talented and I love tough guys, but why go after a guy like Dillon? I don't think it took Seattle out of their game and it seemed to actually pump the Tbirds up a little bit. Going into the 1st intermission tied at 2-2, Seattle proceeded to score twice in the 2nd period to take the 4-2 lead. If you're going to be a tough guy, pick a fight with one of our tough guys and take your shots. Benn Olson went for a little retribution at the end of the game and I doubt we have see the last of that issue in this series.
-The Scott-Nielsen-Holloway line has played much better in Games 3 and 4 and I believe they are the key to the Tbirds success. If they play well in Game 5, Seattle wins...
Game 5 is tomorrow...
-This playoff history between the Rockets and Tbirds continues to be strange as the road team has won 10 of the last 11 playoff games between the two teams.
-In my opinion the most important game of any 7 game series is Game 5. Let's look at the situations for Game 5's.
Team A and Team B
A leads B 3-1 and looks to close it out. Obviously if Team A wins the series is over and if Team B wins not only is the series now much closer but the momentum has now shifted where a Game 6 on the road could carry and team back home for Game 7 or if returning home for Game 6 would most likely propel the series to a 7th game.
A and B are tied at 2-2. Here we are in this series. Winner takes a 3-2 lead and has two shots to close it out.
Based on how the road teams have dominated this historical matchup I wouldn't call Game 5 a must win for Seattle, but someone HAS to win a home game and this series might be over in 6 if Seattle could hold serve at home.
-How bad has the officiating been in this series. I have to think that Kelowna isn't very happy about the officiating to this point either, but Seattle is getting killed by the boys in the striped shirts in this series. How and where does an official come up with a penalty shot on that hooking by Seattle in the 3rd period?? Here is hoping that all the poor officiating is over and that these two teams can decide the series by performance and not by phantom Power Plays.
-I really don't understand Brady Leavold. Can I call him Beach Jr. yet? He is obviously talented and I love tough guys, but why go after a guy like Dillon? I don't think it took Seattle out of their game and it seemed to actually pump the Tbirds up a little bit. Going into the 1st intermission tied at 2-2, Seattle proceeded to score twice in the 2nd period to take the 4-2 lead. If you're going to be a tough guy, pick a fight with one of our tough guys and take your shots. Benn Olson went for a little retribution at the end of the game and I doubt we have see the last of that issue in this series.
-The Scott-Nielsen-Holloway line has played much better in Games 3 and 4 and I believe they are the key to the Tbirds success. If they play well in Game 5, Seattle wins...
Game 5 is tomorrow...
3.25.2008
Its a best of 3 series now
Tbirds get a HUGE win tonight in Kelowna to even the series at 2-2 and regain home ice advantage. This game couldn't have possibly started worse for Seattle as they were down 2-0 within the first 5 minutes of the game. They battled back behind Ian McKenzie (3 assists), Bud Holloway (1 and 1) and Thomas Hickey (1 and 1) and gained a 4-2 lead only to see it disappear on a penalty shot goal and capped by Greg Scott getting the Short Handed GWG just over a minute later.
I have to go play tonight so I will have more thoughts tomorrow....
I have to go play tonight so I will have more thoughts tomorrow....
3.24.2008
David Richard wins it for the Tbirds in OT!
David Richard completes the Hat Trick night with a wrister over the shoulder of Westblom from Prab Rai and the Tbirds get the 3-2 victory tonight in Game 3 of the series.
The win ensures that Seattle will return home on Thursday for Game 5 no matter what.
Seattle will now try to take this momentum into Game 4 tomorrow night and even the series at 2 games a piece.
I cannot overstate how huge this win is for the Tbirds... lose and the season was over, win and this could be the springboard back into the series and into the rest of the playoffs.
I also believe Seattle can still play much better... The Holloway-Nielsen-Scott line hardly showed signs of life until the Overtime period when I thought they put together some outstanding shifts. At times the Tbirds looked like the team we saw in the 2nd half and at times we did not, when Seattle is at their best Kelowna looks overwhelmed, when they aren't... Kelowna dominates the action.
Jacob DeSerres was also enormous in the game and made the save of the night in the Overtime period that saved the game and the season.
Whew....
3 Stars of the Game:
1. David Richard
2. Jamie Benn
3. Thomas Hickey
The win ensures that Seattle will return home on Thursday for Game 5 no matter what.
Seattle will now try to take this momentum into Game 4 tomorrow night and even the series at 2 games a piece.
I cannot overstate how huge this win is for the Tbirds... lose and the season was over, win and this could be the springboard back into the series and into the rest of the playoffs.
I also believe Seattle can still play much better... The Holloway-Nielsen-Scott line hardly showed signs of life until the Overtime period when I thought they put together some outstanding shifts. At times the Tbirds looked like the team we saw in the 2nd half and at times we did not, when Seattle is at their best Kelowna looks overwhelmed, when they aren't... Kelowna dominates the action.
Jacob DeSerres was also enormous in the game and made the save of the night in the Overtime period that saved the game and the season.
Whew....
3 Stars of the Game:
1. David Richard
2. Jamie Benn
3. Thomas Hickey
Season on the line tonight in Game 3
Tbirds have managed to dig themselves a really big hole while I was gone this weekend, ugh. Who would have thought just 6 days ago that Kelowna would storm Key Arena and steal two wins from a lethargic, unmotivated Seattle team that finished the regular season on fire.
I did make it back in time to catch the 2nd and 3rd period of Game 2 on Saturday night and from what I'm told, the action was pretty much the same as the 4 periods that I missed.
I still believe this series is not over... but Game 3 is a must-win. You cannot go down 0-3 and expect to comeback. At the same time... you win Game 3 on the road and you shift momentum to where you can probably carry it over and win Game 4 and you are right back in the series.
Tonight must be a Seattle win or I believe the season is over.
I did make it back in time to catch the 2nd and 3rd period of Game 2 on Saturday night and from what I'm told, the action was pretty much the same as the 4 periods that I missed.
I still believe this series is not over... but Game 3 is a must-win. You cannot go down 0-3 and expect to comeback. At the same time... you win Game 3 on the road and you shift momentum to where you can probably carry it over and win Game 4 and you are right back in the series.
Tonight must be a Seattle win or I believe the season is over.
3.21.2008
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