Rockets Take 3-0 Stranglehold on Hitmen

[RGM81]

WOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

From Castanet:

Rockets one win from cup berth

by Wayne Moore - Story: 46732
May 4, 2009 / 10:30 pm


The Kelowna Rockets are one win away from a berth in the Memorial Cup.

Ryley Grantham's goal at 15:15 of the opening period stood up as the game winner Monday as the Rockets shutout the Calgary Hitmen 2-0.

The Rockets lead the best-of-seven Western Hockey League final 3-0.

Mark Guggenberger blocked 21 shots including 10 during a frantic third period to register his third shutout of the post season.

Guggenberger's toughest save may have been on a dump in from centre ice during the final period. The puck took a crazy hop, went through the netminder and hit the post.

"We caught a few breaks tonight and I think that's how it goes when it's this late in playoffs. When the teams are this good, it just comes down to breaks," says Guggenberger.

"I owe a lot of it to my guys. They've really been working hard, blocking a lot of shots and helping me out."

With Jamie Benn out of the line-up, still suffering the effects of Saturday's hit courtesy of Keith Seabrook, the Rockets needed someone else to step up offensively.

That someone turned out to be Grantham.

The fourth line winger pick up a rebound in front of Hitmen netminder Martin Jones, cut across the crease to his left and deposited the puck into the empty net.

It was Grantham's fourth of the post season and first since scoring the lone goal in a 1-0 win over Vancouver in game five of the Western Conference final.

The game was tight until Cody Almond deposited the insurance goal into the empty net with less than six seconds left in the game.

Kelowna kept the Hitmen at bay over the opening 40 minutes, holding Calgary to just 11 shots, including only three in the opening 20 minutes.

Hitmen head coach, Dave Lowry his team is more disappointed than frustrated.

He says the third period was by far his team's best period of the series.

"That's the way we play, but it was a little too late. We started skating, started generating a lot of chances, we started creating and that's how we are going to have to play if we want to give ourselves an opportunity to win the next hockey game," says Lowry.

"I thought we competed hard tonight and played a pretty solid road game. We're obviously disappointed in the end result. We've dug ourselves a deep hole but there is a lot of belief left in our room."

Lowry says this is the first tie all season the Hitmen have had to face this type of adversity where they have been unable to generate any offence.

"Give them credit. The puck sees to be hitting their goalie when he doesn't see it and bounces are going in their favour. We believe you work for your opportunities and your bounces and we'll continue to press."

Rockets coach, Ryan Huska, says he thought his players were on their heels during the final period as they protected the one goal lead.

"I thought Calgary put on a very big push and I thought we were very uptight towards the end of the game," says Huska.

"Our goaltender was very, very big for us again. He's just kind of carried on that theme for us and I think that's a big reason we were able to get this win."

Huska says he didn't think one goal would be enough against the top team from the east.

"Sometimes that's the way it works. I think as long as our guys keep understanding that the style we are playing isn't overly fancy but we're making sure we're in lanes and limiting opportunities."

Keith Seabrook was definitely public enemy number one at Prospera Place.

The Hitmen defenceman was booed every time he touched the puck Monday and was on the receiving end of more than a few body checks during the course of the game.

"It's always fun to play in a building like this, it's loud and it's intense, but you know that kind of fuels it a little bit that every time you get the puck you hear boos. It's kind of fun in a way," says Seabrook.

The officials let a lot go during the game, letting the players decide the game on the ice rather than in the penalty box.

Just eight minor penalties were called, resulting in four power-play opportunities.

The Rockets finished the night 0-3 while Calgary went 0-1.

Kelowna outshot the Hitmen 24-21, the first time during the post season the to outshoot the Hitmen.

The Rockets can become the first team to win the right to go to the Memorial when they host Calgary in game four of the series.

Calgary must win to extend the series to a fifth game in Calgary on Thursday.

[sholi2000]

Incredible!

Calgary made the Wheaties look like peewees out there. The Rockets must have some team!

[RGM81]

They're hitting the hot streak at just the right time. The Giants were favoured to beat them, didn't happen. This was supposed to be a coronation for the Hitmen, doesn't look like that's going to happen either. I may have to take my Gorges-signed Rockets jersey off the wall soon!

[sholi2000]

Any team that beats a Calgary team is a fan of mine

[cheeseheadman]

Man this is crazy! I watched the Hitmen all year and they, for the most part, steam-rolled everybody. They did not do this to Kelowna though.

Calgary's offence was so amazing that we got free burgers almost every night (5 goals = Wendy's). Looks like the well is a little dry.

[RGM81]

Ha! That's a great promotion. When the Habs score 5, everybody at La Cage gets free wings, but I think Wendy's may even top that.

I'm stunned at how well the Rockets are doing in this series. When I look at the Hitmen's shot totals, it's astounding to see them being muffled like this. That strong defensive system that Kelowna is so renowned for is definitely in high gear!

[TysonX504]

I'm very impressed with the Rockets, I mean I've known all season that they had a very good team. But I don't think anyone expected this to happen in this series. As Shane said the Hitmen made the Wheat Kings look like a peewee team and that's no easy task either. This was also the first away game in the playoffs where Calgary didn't score 4+ goals. Best of luck to the Rockets and they should win this series but it's not over yet. Calgary is good enough to come back from this but only time will tell. Also on another note in Brandon, when the Wheat Kings score 5 goals (I think it's 5) every gets free breakfast at Smitty's :)