Thursday, May 7, 2009

Four Game Sweep Setback

  • Kelowna Rockets fans, brooms in hand, were looking to attend a celebration party Wednesday night at Prospera Place. Instead, what they got was a good example of why the Calgary Hitmen were the top team in the Western Hockey League this season. Brett Sonne, held pointless in the first three games of this series, scored twice and added two assists in a 6-2 win over the Rockets in game four of the Western Hockey League final.
  • The Hitmen showed they meant business by scoring a power play goal early in the first period. Yet the Rockets received back-to-back goals from Mikael Backlund just 5 minutes into the second period and the home team had a 2-1 lead and momentum clearly on their side. The Rockets could have put the game on ice with a 5 on 3 power play, but failed to score. The Hitmen would eventually score three goals in the second and two more in the third in the lopsided win.
  • Despite trailing 4-2 early in the third period, the Rockets were given an early power play chance. Cody Almond could have made it a one goal game but saw his shot go off the left pad of Hitmen goaltender Martin Jones. Had Almond lifted the puck instead of sliding it on the ice, the Rockets could have made it a game.
  • The Hitmen owned the best power play unit in the league during the regular season and showed why in game four. The unit struck for 3 goals on 5 chances. The Rockets were 0 for 5 and have failed to score a power play goal in the last three games in this series.
  • The Hitmen snapped a three game losing streak with the win while snapping the Rockets 6 game winning streak in the playoffs.
  • If you don't play well, the best thing you can do in a playoff series is forget it. No point in dwelling on what happened, but quickly correct the mistakes you made and prepare for the next game. Game five is tonight in Calgary.
  • The two teams are on a level playing field when it comes to travel. The Western Hockey League chartered a jet to fly the two teams back to Calgary. The Rockets had the front of the aircraft while the Hitmen took up the back half. The 45 minute flight was seamless with two buses waiting for the teams as they landed.

10 comments:

rocky said...

Love your blog....thanks for keeping us updated!!! Just wondering if Jamie travelled down with the team and what is his status for tonight??
Go Rockets Go!!!! We will be waving our towels in front of the TV tonight while listening to you Regan!!

Unknown said...

i hate to sound like one of those guys but i mean can we all agree that the refs,from a kelowna and calgary perspective have some kind of selective sight? this series has gotten very chippy,crowds at the net,people up close and personal on the way to the bench,but yet next to nothing has been called,both sides have had their cheap shots. in my mind the last thing you'd want to do is cram both sides in tight quarters on a plane,but maybe thats just me.

too bad you couldn't get a picture of this one guy regan,he had a big shop broom,which he decided to break over his knee and then leave...was like something out of a movie.

Kelly Markwart said...

Pretty classy act, flying both teams out to cut down on the travel time.

Did they hire security to sit in the Middle seats?

Regan Bartel said...

The security between the two teams consisted of Doyle and I. Let's just say we were about as incompetent as the officiating last night. We were way over our heads.

g.k said...

The referees Smith & Klein should not be allowed to do another game in this series they are both too incompetent to be reffing at this level, their style is probably better suited to beer league hockey, I mean they can't even count, the Hitmen were guilty of too many men at least three times last night, & one led directly to a goal. Best I've seen Jones play in this series so far!! Could of been a different 3rd period if not for him!! I just hope they let Savage ref the rest of this series, & leave those other boneheads at home.

RocketsGirl said...

So from where I was sitting it really looked like half of the Hitmen werent wearing mouth guards... what would be the pentalty for that???

Regan Bartel said...

Jamie Benn made the trip to Calgary. Whether he plays tonight is a game time decision. My bet is he won't play.

hockeygirl said...

I hate to see a game get out of hand like that one, in all fairness the hitmen deserved that win, however not with that reffing. WOW!
GO ROCKETS!! We will be just as loud as we were last night, while watching on TV/listening to you tonight Regan.

Unknown said...

All hands on deck ,,Gut checking time for our boys as much as i would have loved to see them win it in four it might be a good thing in the long run ... to have to check ego at the door and face another challenge it only makes em better and ready for the next big tournament Come on boys get the rumble going.

fan said...

l'm thinking there having Benn there in case we win. go rockets go