By Mike Caccioppoli

(32-20-4-3) Spokane Chiefs 3, (20-37-1-1) Seattle Thunderbirds 0

 

We missed the net ten times I bet. We had them beat for a lot of shots. That's probably the biggest difference in the game tonight. We generated some stuff but when you miss the net you let them off the hook.That's the frustrating part tonight because we take a scoring chance and make it into nothing.

Well it's not a must win till you are mathematically eliminated so I'm going to say no but it's a very urgent win (Saturday vs. Everett).I'm excited. I hope our guys are excited, we are going to have fun and get them ready this week. We're going to have fun all week. We are going to bring energy. We have put ourselves in this situation where it means something. As much as we'd like to have more points we're still in the race and this is a huge game where we can control our destiny so it's not all bad....Head Coach Steve Konowalchuk

 

KENT- After being embarrassed in Portland the night before the Thunderbirds play a curiously sleepy game against the Chiefs. Generating few shots while once again making some mistakes inside their own blue line, Seattle was shut out 3-0.

It was the 10th loss in their last 11 home games.

 

The Chiefs took a 1-0 lead at 10:05 of the first period. Dominick Uher (25) scored when he deflected a shot past Calvin Pickard.

Seattle was down 1-0 after 20 minutes and were outshot 17-4.

Spokane took a 2-0 lead at 13:45 of the second period. Collin Valcourt scored his 14th goal of the season.

The Birds trailed 2-0 at the end of the 2nd period. They were being outshot 28-11.

More problems inside the blue led led to the Chiefs taking a 3-0 lead at 1:24 of the third period. Seattle lost the puck inside the blue line and couldn't recover which led to a two on none break for Spokane and Liam Stewart scored his 11th goal of the season.

The Birds got a late power play and also pulled Pickard for a six on four advantage. A too many men on the ice call wiped away the final few seconds of the advantage.

Seattle is shutout 3-0.

 

Post game Q & A with Head Coach Steve Konowalchuk:

MC:After not playing well Friday they give a poor effort yesterday and tonight the effort isn't there either...

SK: Don't say they didn't give effort..it's execution.

MC: Did they not execute tonight?

SK: They (Spokane) were the better team tonight. I don't want to question any of my guys effort for the most part.

MC: Sometimes when a team isn't playing well the fans and even the media have trouble differentiating between effort and execution. How do you as the coach know that your guys are giving it their best, that they are playing with heart?

SK: I can see who is determined and who is moving their feet, back checking, fore checking. Who is going into those dirty areas and finishing checks, little thing like that. You know a lot of times guys do too much and it makes them worse hockey players. That was the case a lot vs. Portland, guys are chasing the puck instead of playing the system. You have to be smarter. Sometimes there is just a natural frustration when you aren't getting results. I like my guys effort most nights but they have to execute. You have to get your skill level up and make sure you are mentally ready to go.

MC: Spokane is always tough when it comes to getting shots through and tonight we saw the same thing.

SK: We missed the net ten times I bet. We had them beat for a lot of shots. That's probably the biggest difference in the game tonight. We generated some stuff but when you miss the net you let them off the hook.That's the frustrating part tonight because we take a scoring chance and make it into nothing.

MC: In fact there was one play when you won a neutral zone battle and it turns into a partial breakaway and yet nothing comes of it.

SK: And that's execution. Hitting the net is execution. That's the stuff we have to get better at.

MC: Is it that they are just holding the sticks too tight?

SK: A litte bit. I don't know, that's a term guys use. I've heard that my whole life. I held my stick the same way all the time (laughs) maybe that's why I didn't score too much. It's really just trying too much. The first play you see is usually the right play. We have to trust our instincts. It's thinking too much instead of just playing.

MC: It could be a mental thing more than physical, the whole 'holding the sticks' thing.

SK: Yes exactly. It's thinking too much.

MC:There were still problems inside the blue line leading to goals.

SK: On the third goal the forward turned it over at the blue line and put our D in the soup there. I thought our D rebounded from last night. I'm pretty proud of Hauf, and Theodore, Wardley played a good game. I'm not happy, we lost the game but I'm happy because it shows maturity. There is a big picture with some of these guys. Our D core had a tough night in Portland but they put it behind them and had a strong game.

MC: You just mentioned the younger guys. Some of the older players have a very high minus rating..between -25 and -35. Does that bother you?

SK: It's a team stat. When we have a record like we have you are going to be minus when you play a lot of minutes. I don't put that much into the minuses but guys have to find a way to come up big for us the rest of the way. I think Gallimore is playing a better stretch of hockey now. It's a team stat but you want to be out there for more goals for than against. I know they are frustrated by that. The older guys in whatever league are the guys that make the difference.

MC: With the teams you are fighting for a playoff spot with like Everett gaining ground is there a sense that things are slipping away?

SK: We've lost ground there's no doubt about it. I don't think by any means we think it's gone or we aren't getting there. But we've lost ground and we're aren't winning as much as we'd like. If we bring the same effort tonight against Everett we will be fine. I'm excited now because you look at games and you circle certain games. Next game is going to be a playoff game.

MC: Does what happened with Machacek (getting suspended) in Portland bother you?

SK: He has to control himself there. We don't know how long he's going to miss and he was playing well for us. I'm not happy with that. I thought it was pretty darn borderline that if he didn't have trouble earlier in the year he wouldn't have gotten the misconduct. That bothers me a bit. But what he did last night he really can't do. If he wants to scrum that's one thing but then he has to cut it. He can't come flying in there again.

MC:Well I'm going to say those words again 'must win'. Is Saturday vs. Everett a must win game?

SK: Well it's not a must win till you are mathematically eliminated so I'm going to say no but it's a very urgent win. I'm excited. I hope our guys are excited, we are going to have fun and get them ready this week. We're going to have fun all week. We are going to bring energy. We have put ourselves in this situation where it means something. As much as we'd like to have more points we're still in the race and this is a huge game where we can control our destiny so it's not all bad.

 

Plus side:

Defense improves. After a very bad day in Portland the defense does rebound especially the younger players.

 

 

Minus side:

No zip. Not sure what you want to call it and while Konowalchuk is mostly happy with his teams effort the game seemed kind of.. well.. sleepy. Spokane controlled play too much of the time especially in the first period.

Missing the net. As has been the case so often this season when the Birds get their scoring chances they miss the net by a wide margin. Even from five feet or so out. Call it what you will, but it's very frustrating especially when you don't get many scoring chances.

Bodies in front and shoot. It doesn't seem that complicated. In fact on two of Spokane's goals that's exactly what happened. They got bodies in front and shot.. on net. The Birds need to learn how to do that.

Power play. Not a great night for the power play either. They had zero shots on their first two and two shots on their third advantage.

Home woes. In a very critical time the Birds have lost 10 of 11 at home. Several of those losses were in front of good crowds as well.

 

 

Game Notes:

-F Dillon Wagner (unsure), D Cason Machacek (suspension), and D Brad Deagle (banged up) were scratched.

-F Tyler Alos took a hit and left the game.

-Seattle drops to 11-18-0-1 at home. They are now ensured of a losing record at home. They are 1-5 against Spokane after losing four in a row. (0-3 home, 1-2 road).

-Calvin Pickard falls to 20-31-1-1. Mac Engel improves to 24-16-1-2.

 

 

Thunderbirds second half record: 7-20-1.

 

PLAYOFF CHASE:

7.Victoria..(19 wins..44 points..11 games left)

8.Seattle..(20 wins..42 points..13 games left)

9. Everett..(16 wins..41 points..12 games left)

10. Prince George.(19 wins..40 points..12 games left)

 

710Sports.com three stars:

First star: Liam Stewart (goal, +2 rating)

Second star: Collin Valcourt (goal, +2 rating)

Third star: Connor Chartier (assist, +2 rating)

 

Thunderbirds play Saturday night at 6:05 pm at the ShoWare Center against the Everett Silvertips. The action can be heard live at 710Sports.com.

Game summary is on the WHL website.

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mike.caccioppoli@yahoo.com