Ice drop second straight, lose to Chiefs in Shootout

Watched the game as a fan last night so the recap will be a short one today.

A fun game to watch last night as the goaltenders put on a show most of the night starting in the first period as Mackenzie Skapski, getting his second straight home start, kept the Ice in the game early and fought off a Chief barrage of 14 shots in the scoreless first period. Mac Engel was sharp for the Chiefs in the first, stopping Max Reinhart twice - once on a nice back-door feed and then again on a wrist shot - to keep the game scoreless.

Somebody mentioned to me that they were surprised Skapski was getting the start over Lieuwen at home. I thought he earned it after Tuesday's performance. He played well. Saw Lieuwen with his hand wrapped/taped Tuesday night on the bench but I don't think that factored into the decision.

In the second D Joe Leach opened the scoring with a wicked slapshot that beat Engel high to the blocker side, though Engel did get a piece of it. Three minutes later newly acquired Todd Fiddler - obtained from the Prince Albert Raiders for Chief leading scorer Anthony Bardaro and G Luke Lee-Knight, along with G Eric Williams going to the Chiefs - deflected in a point-shot that Skapski had little chance on.

The Ice went up 2-1 on a Dylan McKinlay wrist shot as he took the pass out of the corner and roofed his 7th of the season.

In the third the Ice really took it to the Chiefs but couldn't convert and a Eric Benoit high-sticking call - a tough one as he was spun around by a Chief on the play but his stick went flying, clipping D Corbin Baldwin in the back of the head - cost them. F Liam Stewart banged home a point-shot rebound to tie the game in the third.

Overtime solved nothing and then in the shootout Mitch Holmberg and Brendan Kichton scored to give the Chiefs the extra-point.

The Ice drop their second straight game and finish December 3-7. At 22-11-1-3 and 48 points the Ice sit fourth in the Eastern Conference, now six back of the rolling Oil Kings who lead the conference.

Some more thoughts:

The Ice were without D John Neibrandt and D Luke Paulsen last night. Neibrandt's in a sling and had some dental work done after taking a puck or stick in the mouth at practice earlier in the week. He's pretty beat up but could return in a week so it's likely a shoulder separation. Paulsen is day-to-day but being re-evaluated with an undisclosed injury. The club also missed the likes of Sam Reinhart, Jaedon Deschaneau, Spencer Wand and Jon Martin, all 16 but all who could've made impact. They're at the World U-tourny. D Tanner Faith, who was called up to play in place of the missing players was hurt in practice Thursday with an undisclosed ailment.

F Drew Czerwonka laid the biggest hit of the night on Chief forward Steven Kuhn along the half-wall that knocked out the plexiglass. It didn't break so the RecPlex staff just put it back in after about a four minute delay. There was one late in the game from Chief D Corbin Baldwin on Ice forward Brock Montgomery that rocked the 19-year-old as he cut in across the slot but he recovered. Crowd didn't like it but I thought it was a clean hit.

Chief tying goal was scored by F Liam Stewart, son of rocker Rod-the-bod Stewart and model Rachel Hunter. Stewart was tagged to play for Great Britain at the U-18 championships - Division II Group A - against the likes of Croatia, Korea, Lithuania, Romania and the host Netherlands at the end of March. The 17-year-old played for the LA Kings U-16 team last season. He was born in California and is still eligible to play for the U.S. team as internationally it's the country you play for after you turn 18 that cements where you'll play. Rod was a pretty good soccer player in the day but will be 67 January 10th. No, he wasn't in the building last night.... And an interesting or creepy, depending on your point of view, side-note. Former Ice captain Jarret Stoll, now playing for the LA Kings, dated Liam's Mom Rachel Hunter for a spell and almost got married a year or so ago. Meaning the former Ice captain was almost Liam's step-dad......

At the World U-17 challenge the Ice rookies are doing well. Sam leads the tournament in scoring with 4 points (all goals) as Team Pacific is 2-0 at the tourney atop Group A. They play Russia (that would be a better game to watch!) today. (11pm Mountain time). Wand and Martin (Team West) along with Descheneau (Team Pacific) haven't reached the stat-sheet yet.

Okay, that's it for 2011 as for the first time in 9 years New Year's Eve will consist of something other than a hockey game as the Ice aren't playing tonight at home. Canada-USA on the tube for World Juniors that means squat because the U.S. haven't played well at all is the only alternative.