Kootenay ices victory in shootout

By Greg Harder, Leader-Post

February 2, 2010

Regina Pats goaltender Damien Ketlo (31) keeps his eye on the puck as Kootenay Ice's Dominick Pacovsky moves in for a shot while being checked by Regina's Colten Teubert at the Brandt Centre on Monday.Photograph by: Bryan Schlosser, Leader-Post, Leader-Post

Blame it on Monday.

The Regina Pats and Kootenay Ice had no cure for the post-weekend blahs with a stale performance at the Brandt Centre that ended with a 2-1 shootout decision for the visitors.

A skeleton crowd of 3,861 (paid attendance) showed up for a rare Monday game that was necessitated after blizzard conditions forced the postponement of an originally scheduled encounter on Jan. 24.

Ticket stubs from that date were honoured Monday, but there were no refunds granted after the game.

"She wasn't a Picasso by any means," admitted Ice head coach Mark Holick. "Sometimes that happens. I thought both goalies, when they were tested, played very well. There were some guys who missed some nets on both sides. It probably could have been settled in regulation. It is what it is. It's like a garbage goal -- don't ask how (it happened). We'll take the two points and move forward."

Regina picked up a single point for the shootout loss to move within seven of the Prince Albert Raiders for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The Pats will jump straight back into the fire today versus the Red Deer Rebels.

"Obviously we're disappointed with the loss but at the same time we got a point and that point is going to be valuable," said Pats sniper Jordan Eberle, whose team was outshot 33-26.

"We need to get as many points as we can. (Today) is going to be a huge game for us. We're going to need to win that game if we want to make the playoffs."

The Pats got a break before Monday's game even began when Kootenay's top gun, Dustin Sylvester, was a late scratch due to illness. Despite his absence, the territorial play was slanted decidedly in favour of the visitors during the first period -- until Regina received two late opportunities with the man advantage, squandering them both. Ice goalie Todd Mathews played spoiler on the first one, robbing Carter Ashton from the doorstep after a perfect cross-crease setup by Jordan Weal.

With the game still scoreless, Mathews got the better of Ashton again late in the second period.

Eberle broke down the right side on a short-handed 2-on-1, side-stepped a sliding defender and fed Ashton, who drove to the net but lost control of the puck courtesy of a poke-check by Mathews.

The Ice finally opened the scoring with 39 seconds left in the middle frame -- but they needed a two-man advantage to do it -- when Matt Fraser fired a bullet from the left face-off circle past goaltender Damien Ketlo.

The Pats spoiled Mathews' shutout bid 4:11 into the third period when Eberle deposited a bouncing puck into the open side to snap an 0-for-14 slump on the power play.

Kootenay looked like it might escape with a regulation win after a massive pile-up in the Pats' crease with 18.8 seconds left. Following a lengthy video review, it was ruled no goal.

Both teams had their chances in overtime, including a couple by Regina's Garrett Mitchell, but the goaltenders preserved this never-ending contest for a shootout. Matt Reinhart and Jesse Ismond scored in the breakaway session. Weal replied for the Pats but Eberle and Brett Leffler were stopped by Mathews to ice it.

SCOUTING REPORT

RED DEER (28-19-0-4) at REGINA (23-25-3-2)

Today, 7 p.m., Brandt Centre

Radio: 620 CKRM

Key injuries: REGINA -- None to report. RED DEER -- C Nathan Green (broken leg, indefinite).

Overview: The Rebels have won four straight games and are close to putting themselves out of the Pats' reach. Red Deer sits sixth in the Eastern Conference, nine points ahead of 10th-place Regina, with two games in hand . . . The Pats split their first two meetings with the Rebels, winning 7-3 in Regina on Oct. 3 and losing 3-2 in Red Deer on Dec. 15 . . . The Rebels have a road record of 10-12-0-2. Regina is 16-8-1-2 on home ice . . . Red Deer's leading scorer is RW Willie Coetzee (23-46--69, 51 GP), followed by super-rookie Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (18-28--46, 46 GP) . . . The Rebels are one of the WHL's more offensively challenged teams (2.94 goals per game) but they're among the best at keeping the puck out of their net (2.98 goals against per game). It starts with G Darcy Kuemper (2.74 GAA, .908 SP and two shutouts) . . . The Rebels have a record of 14-3-0-4 in one-goal games. The Pats are 6-6-3-2 . . . Fans attending tonight's game are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item for donation to the Regina Food Bank on behalf of Waste Management Canada. It's also Jordan Eberle Autograph Night. After the game, Eberle will be available to sign special action prints for $5, with proceeds going to the WHL's Haiti Relief Fund.

© Copyright (c) The Regina Leader-Post

Barrie WHL player of the week

The StarPhoenix

February 2, 2010

Tyson Barrie of the Kelowna Rockets had eight points in four Western Hockey League games last week to grab the junior loop's player of the week honours.

The defenceman from Victoria had his biggest game on Friday against Prince George when he scored twice in regulation and tallied the game-winner in the shootout as the Rockets won 4-3. In all, he had four goals and four assists this week.

Kraymer Barnstable of the Red Deer Rebels is the league's top goaltender after not allowing a goal in two appearances. He came on in relief of starter Darcy Kuemper Wednesday against Tri-City and stopped all 14 shots he faced at the Rebels rallied to win 4-3. On Sunday he made 26 saves in a 5-0 shutout against Edmonton.

© Copyright (c) The StarPhoenix