“We came out flat right from the opening face-off and we finished flat. We looked like the Keystone Kops out there – if anything could go wrong it did.”
That was from Assistant Coach Scott Ferguson on our post-game show following the Blazers most lopsided defeat of the season.
The Chiefs led 2-0 before the ice was even dry to open the game. Jared Cowen scored a PP marker just 59 seconds in with D Bronson Maschmeyer in the box. Anthony Bardaro scored eight seconds later off the ensuing face-off on a 2-on-1.
Even the Chiefs goal song couldn’t keep up. They might as well have left it on repeat up in the sound booth – maybe they did?
“Guys weren’t competing. It was a combination of everything and they just ran roughshod over us for 60 minutes. I’ve never seen anything like it. No spark, no emotion and that was the most frustrating part about it,” added Ferguson.
The Blazers Brendan Ranford scored at 3:25 to temporarily stop the bleeding. It was his WHL leading 22nd of the season.
On the Blazers next PP, a turnover at center-ice led to a 2-on-0, which was finished off by Tyler Johnson on the pass from Levko Koper. From there, the route was on.
"It was a tough night for the goaltenders. It wasn’t like they were getting much help from anyone though. But every time the puck was shot towards the goal it went in. I think two went off (defenseman) Fienhage and into the back of the net,” continued a rattled Ferguson.
“Cowen looked like Bobby Orr out there. He gets three goals and I think all three times he had all the time in world, he wasn’t even challenged.”
After a scoreless 2nd period, the Blazers trailed 4-1 through two periods. The wheels really fell off at the start of the third. The Chiefs scored four goals in a span of 5:02 to go up 8-1. The guy ringing the “goal gong” in the corner of the rink had to switch arms a couple of times due to pure exhaustion.
G Cam Lanigan was mercifully pulled at 8-1 in favour of 16 year-old Troy Trombley. Trombley has been called up from “AAA” midget with Jeff Bosch out of the line-up.
The first two-shots Trombley faced got through him. Cue the song…
It was 10-1 at that point. The final few minutes couldn’t come off the scoreboard fast enough for all involved.
“I blew a gasket after the 1st period and tried to get them going. I guess we saw how that turned out. Right now it’s a matter of guys getting together. We have to have them buy in. It was frustrating. We had guys pointing fingers at each other. We have to hold ourselves accountable first before we can hold our teammates accountable. As a coaching staff we will have to hold everyone accountable and make sure they get re-focused because we have two huge home ice games this weekend.”
Spokane is back to complete the home-and-home set tomorrow night.
2 comments:
Jon I just dont know what to think about this team, every time I think weve turned the corner these types of games rear there ugly head. At what point does not making the playoffs become a real issue? can we expect this team to be anything more than what its shown so far? Being that were in year three of bonners reign am I wrong to expect more than what Ive seen so far? What is the problem and why can we not begin to show the consitancy needed to compete night in and night out?
I don't know what I can say to help you. It's a tough league and expectations are high. Last night was a bad night all around. I've been around several WHL teams and I still maintain this is a good one with a good group.
Consistency is what everyone shoots for. Too bad it's so elusive for the most part.
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