KELOWNA – Mark Guggenberger says the pucks bounced for Kelowna on Monday night. They did, and now the Rockets are one win away from bouncing the Calgary Hitmen.
Guggenberger made 21 saves for Kelowna, and Cody Almond scored into an empty net, as the Rockets defeated the visiting Hitmen 2-0 in a tough, hard-hitting and wildly entertaining Game 3 of the league championship series for a 3-0 lead. The best-of-seven set resumes Wednesday with Game 4 at Prospera Place.
“We caught a few breaks tonight, and that‘s how it goes sometimes,” said Guggenberger, who has been Kelowna‘s best player against Calgary despite this being his first role as a playoff starter. “The teams are really good, and it just comes down to bounces.”
While the Hitmen were unlucky a few times, including a shot that squeaked through Guggenberger, hit the post and bounced out, the Rockets earned the win through hard work.
Kelowna owned the first two periods, outshooting Calgary 21-11, but the Hitmen roared back in the third and put hard pressure on the hosts.
Guggenberger, however, shut the door with a 10-save effort, including four stops in the first four minutes.
“The first two periods, we played a very sound, simple game. And in the third, we were on our heels in a big way,” said Rockets head coach Ryan Huska. “They put on a very big push and we were a little bit uptight towards the end of the game, but our goaltender was very, very big for us again.
“He‘s carried on that theme for the entire series so far, and that‘s a big reason why we were able to get the win in Game 3.”
“He‘s been the MVP of the series so far,” Rockets defenceman Tyler Myers said of Guggenberger. “He‘s playing unbelievable for us back there. He‘s very dedicated and we‘re lucky to have him.”
Asked if he, or anyone else, predicted Kelowna forging out to a 3-0 lead against the WHL‘s regular-season champions, Huska said “No, never.”
“But sometimes that‘s the way it works,” he continued. “As long as our guys keep understanding the style we‘re playing – it‘s not overly fancy – but we‘re doing a good job limiting a lot of their opportunities.
“The only thing we have to correct for the next time is what happened on our part in the third
period: We got uptight and started making softer plays, and that‘s something that has to change.”
Ryley Grantham also scored for Kelowna, which opened the scoring late in the first period. Almond closed out the scoring with 5.7 seconds left with a slow-rolling backhand from centre ice into an empty net.
Martin Jones made 22 saves for Calgary, which entered the playoffs with the league‘s best regular-season record. Guggenberger, meanwhile, recorded his third post-season shutout, thanks in part to a dozen or more blocked shots.
“I owe a lot of it to my guys; they‘ve really been working hard blocking shots and helping me out,” said Guggenberger. “They‘re boxing them out from in front of the net and they‘re tying up sticks so they can‘t get any pretty back-door plays on us.”
The Rockets were without leading scorer and left winger Jamie Benn, who suffered an undisclosed injury in Kelowna‘s 5-2 victory in Game 2 on Saturday. After taking a shot along Calgary‘s goal-line midway through the first period, Benn was levelled by Hitmen defenceman Keith Seabrook and was knocked out of the game after falling hard into the endboards, then onto the ice.
Asked about Benn‘s condition, Huska said “No, no Jamie Benn tonight.”
“He‘s a day-to-day thing. When our doctors evaluated him a few different times throughout the day, he‘s a game-time guy. So hopefully the extra day off will be something important for Jamie. Looking at that, we‘re fortunate that (a day off Tuesday) was put in the schedule.”
In the game‘s opening minute, Seabrook touched the puck four times, and each time he was heartily jeered by the standing-room only crowd of 6,329. And when Rockets forward Evan Bloodoff hit him into Calgary‘s endboards at 55 seconds, a loud cheer ensued.
Seabrook, however, ignored the jeers and had a good game for the Hitmen, though the Rockets seemed to target the six-foot rearguard from Delta.
With three minutes left, Almond laid a hard hit on Seabrook just below Kelowna‘s blue-line, hard enough to knock off Seabrook‘s helmet. Seabrook seemed dazed, but quickly skated off to Calgary‘s bench.
“I think they were,” Seabrook said of being targeted by Kelowna. “I wasn‘t a fan favourite out there, but it‘s fun to play that game. Boos are like cheers on the road; it‘s fun, and I expect the same thing Wednesday.”
ICE CHIPS: – Kelowna‘s scratches were LW Jamie Benn (unlisted injury, possible concussion), RW Shane McColgan and RW Kyle St. Denis (flu, possible concussion). Calgary‘s scratches were D Austin Madaisky, LW Mackenzie Royer, LW Tyler Fiddler and C Jason MacDonald. . . . Calgary was 0-for-1 on the power play; Kelowna was 0-for-3. Top of Page
