Kootenay finished off a five-game road trip in style Wednesday night in Portland by defeating the top-ranked WHL club 5-3. Matt Coxford of the Townman has coverage of the game here. The highlites are here.
Kevin King got a couple of goals while Brayden McNabb and Matt Fraser both chipped in with two assists. Nathan Lieuwen stopped 24 of 27 shots to get the win.
Kootenay improves to 19-7-0-2 and leap-frogs over Red Deer for first in the Central and second in the Eastern Conference with 40 points, a point off of Saskatoon for the conference lead.
24 hours earlier they dumped the Everett Silvertips 3-1.
Couple of thoughts:
Ryan Johansen got the first star nod with a goal and an assist and a -1. Homer pick... Not to nitpick but Kootenay's power play continues to fizzle. The trip was a combined 3-17 over the five games and take away the better than average result against the T-birds (3-3) and it's clear that there's an issue there. Just imagine their record with a power play that's at least middle-of-the-pack at 20+ percent? Right now they're 20th in the WHL at 14.7%. Brayden Schenn are you out there???.
For those counting, LA King forward Brayden Schenn is back with the Kings after a two week conditioning stint. He's played 8 games and isn't expected to get into the lineup tonight against Florida. Speculation is heating up that he will be released for Team Canada to play at the World Juniors so if he's going to be sent back to Brandon and then dealt to a contender before WJC training camp, the clock is ticking. Speculation that Portland and Saskatoon are in the running so likely the bidding is going to skyrocket for his services. If he comes back, if he's made available... a lot of ifs.
Clearly the Ice are going to have to make a splash for a home-run hitter on the power play to make a run this season, question is, who?
Lots of chatter on the board about 15-year-old Sam Reinhart playing in favour of fourth-liners Adam Rossignol and Brock Montgomery. If Montgomery had a slight injury to sit him a game in favour of the new kid to give him some time, why not? Anybody who has played the game in a team atmosphere knows that if you're the odd-man out in the situation, you better bust your hump the next time you're in so that you're not in the same position again. This doesn't do anything against team morale, it just motivates guys down the depth chart not to be the odd-man out. Besides, in Rossignol's case any rookie in the WHL - unless you're lights out - sits a certain amount of games healthy and usually knows that going in. Besides, this isn't nothing new. Maxwell, McCarthy, Stoll, Sylvester et al, all had their first taste this way and if the younger Reinhart is going to be a special player among that ilk in this league, then this is where is starts.
Oh, and love the opinions and express them but please, ixnay on the name-calling....
The goaltending of Nathan Lieuwen is finally carrying the mail for the club and the 19-year-old looks to living up to the first round Bantam pick he was four years ago. I'd think he'll start against the Hat Saturday night and perhaps Teskey getting PA Wednesday to open up the three-game road trip into the Prairies.
Talk about attendance - no, not Kootenay's - for once - and in Portland, a city of over 2 million, the game draws an announced crowd of 1698. I guess they have some terrific upside when they have a U.S. Division opponent in the Rose Garden but less than 1700?... In PG with the Cougars edging the Hitmen 4-3, 1755 showed up. This for a team that's second-best in the Western Conference. It's a been a while since you could say that... In Edmonton 2794 for the Oil's 5-4 Shootout loss to PA and in the Wack 2637 came to see the Blades dump the Bruins 7-3. What I'm trying to say is that the attendance issue is creeping up all around the league and not just here in Iceland.
Lastly, saw that Calgary's Jimmy Bubnick notched a Hat-trick last night. Could he be a target for some much-needed power play help? Discuss.
The Tigers are at the Plex Saturday night for a great Central Division tilt.
12 comments:
Schenn will be reassigned to Brandon tomorrow.
everett is in last in the US, the Ice can go for Landon Ferraro.
See if Swift figures they can contend and then go for Eakin if not?
Trade for character, not talent.
Jeff will not trade for a BIG time player. Who would he give up?
He will sit on hos hands and not pick up the phone.
Trade deadline is Jan,10th
With the WJC coming up he has only a few days before and a few days after.( no trades Dec,15th-27th)
JMO
We have 2 first round draft picks next year...If thats not enough to bring in someone who knows...We dont have to give up a roster player...Jeff wont do anything anyways...Last big trade was 2002...He is content on just "Making" the playoffs....Maybe thats why the fans have quit comming....Same old every year....Make the playoffs and get knocked out first round....How exciting is that?
trade for character not talent? are you frigging kiddin me? do you even watch the games or just go to them? we have so much character right now but we need the one or two guys that can get us on the board when the chips are down, character does not score goals, sorry.
i know Jeff is one to sit around and not make any moves but this is the year he has to get serious about and I think he will pull the triger on a deal. we are legitimate contenders in my opinion and we need that guy to put us over the top.
I expect the For the Ice to get Schenn or Eakin they would have to give up One of their first rounders in this years draft, one of our 2 better Goalie prospects(Skapski/Hoflin), and a 3rd/4th line rosetr player-Pearce or Montgomery. I would be open to a deal like this to take place if it were for Brayden Schenn, but for Eakin i would only give up a 1st rounder and a goalie prospect.
Out of all the ultra-talented players in the league, Ferraro is the last one I would want to see in an Ice uni. Not so successful in Reddeer, gets traded to Everett, named captain, now in last place in the US div. Add to that no team canada invites (and there is a reason for that). In fact I'd rather the Ice pick up no one than pick up Ferraro.
well thats just like your opinion man. you probly know nothing about the kid whatsoever, i hear he's a nice kid. Maybe daddy is the problem?
Yes that is my opinion man, and by the magic of these comment boards, I believe I am entitled to it. I've heard (from reliable sources) opinions that suggest the oposite of what you suggested about him.
hmmm.... ok ill take yer word for it.
I have to agree with Reggie; I know from sources in RD that he was not a good fit and you can't argue that RD is better this year without him.
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