Saturday night's tilt between the Kamloops Storm and the Penticton Lakers at the Mac Island Sport Centre took place in the smaller NHL ice venue and the Storm were able to do something they haven't done for a while... come from behind and take the much needed win.
The game started out looking like another head shaker in the first period. Although the Storm out-shot the visiting Lakers 16-11, defensive errors proved costly as the Lakers were able to split the defense twice to beat Anthony Manfredi for two goals. Brendan Persley scored his first of two as he split the Kamloops rear-guards and put one high up over Storm goaltender Anthony Manfredi while the Lakers 2nd goal, off the hands of Lars Hepso, was strikingly similar. To compound their woes, the Storm managed to hit the iron twice during the period with the puck choosing to favour the Lakers. The prognosis after the first period wasn't bright.
The Storm seemed to tighten up their defensive play in the 2nd period and continued to pressure the Lakers offensively, hemming them in their own zone and forcing the play to the net. Their tenaciousness paid off. Late in the period, the Storm connected on 2 goals to pull temporarily even on the scoreboard 2-2. Reliable Tyler Jackson started it off on a pretty 3-way-passing-play with Bevin Ollek and Taylor Stuart to beat Penticton netminder Kenny Quinn. Just over a minute later Rylee Orr deflected a low point shot from Brett DeFrias to tie the score... there seemed to be a light at the end of the tunnel. However, that light was short live as a defensive error again caused a 2 on 1 break and Persley again buried one past Manfredi with 2:24 left in the period to take a 3-2 lead into the 2nd intermission.
It was now gut check time. After fighting back and then losing the lead in the previous period the Storm players were looking for some answers... would they reinforce their will to claw back to win the game or would they go through the 3rd period looking at the glass half empty. It didn't take long to distinguish which way they would choose.
The Storm came out flying in the 3rd period, exerting a lot of pressure in the Penticton zone and generally controlling the play. With only 1:35 gone in the period, the Lakers Nick Beisher took a tripping penalty on Gary Rai and the Storm connected on the the PP to draw even at 3-3. Beven Ollek completed a sweet passing play by Duncan Schultz to Jackson who shot through a crowd and left a juicy rebound for the 6' 5" forward who has proved all year that he can score in close to the net.
Just a minute and 43 seconds later, it was Riley Orr who buried his second goal of the evening beating Quinn on the open side, completing a crisp passing play with Alessio Tomassetti and Jason Alessio who did some marvelous work deep in the Penticton zone. It was the Storm's first lead of the game and that's the way the game ended. Penticton lost their "giddy-up" that put them ahead early in the game and Anthony Manfredi closed the door on any additional chances that came their way.
The fans went home happy with the coaches and players gave a sigh of relief with the result of their comeback effort.
McDonald's 3 Stars:
1) Rylee Orr - 2 goals, including GW
2) Allessio Tomassetti - 2 assists (8 points in 4 games since joining the Storm)
3) Brendan Persley - 2 goals, 1 asst (possibly the best player on the ice this evening)
Boxscore
Next home game... Sunday Feb 7 vs the Princeton Posse.
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Posts
Just a note from Friday's 7-2 loss to Princeton where Storm D-man Ryan Skinner was brutally hit to the head that left him unconscious on the ice. In watching that and not one of his team mates standing up for him, I have lost all respect for them. Please watch the footage and tell me that the hit should have only gotten #12 only a 5 min & 10min penalty. I hope the league takes another look at it. It was disgusting!
ReplyDeleteHey Skinny's Mom - good for you for speaking up, however, not all the players were there to stick up for him. I think some were already out of the game. Probaly the ones who would have done something. You can't paint everyone with the same brush. The Princeton announcer was rude about the hit as well. It was not a laughing matter or one to joke about. It was not an accident.
ReplyDeleteOn another note, has Barry Dewar ever played hockey or just owned a team?
storm fan
errr... you can only lose respect for the 4 other guys that were on the ice... how could the other 14 guys do anything lol?
ReplyDeleteOuch
ReplyDeleteThis is an interesting dialogue - did anyone consider that maybe the players were instructed not to fight. Maybe some of the players feel like a pussy but in all fairness maybe they were following the orders on the bench
ReplyDeletestorm fan not to be confused with stormfan
ReplyDeletedont think barry dewar has ever played hockey, if he did mabey he would realize a team hosting westerns needs to practice more then two lousy times a week for an hour, most other teams in the league practice every day they are not playing..... Thursdays off? what is dewar thinking?...i feel bad for the players, they are not beeing givin what they need for success
ReplyDeleteYou would think Barry would know what it takes to make a winning team - he has had one. This year is a joke - making a run for the Westerns, more like a crawl - ha Barry has to open up his wallet and show that he is dedicated to the team. The Storm seems to get the other teams left overs - which isnt always bad. Two little practises a week - what a joke. How do you build a team on that - why arent the coaches requesting more. I agree with the other comment - I too feel bad for the players - why are they going to give it their all when they are not given the tools to succeed.
ReplyDeleteMrs Skinner..I too was appalled that no one stuck up for you son.Disgusted. That hit would have started a line brawl on a good hockey team.However,the players were told by coaches just a few shifts earlier NOT TO FIGHT.
ReplyDeleteTerrible coaching staff.Head coach there to develope his sons game,not win hockey games.Two tiny 16 year old dmen in all the crucial situations.
Coaching staff and Managment have FAILED.
You are totally right I mean pee wees practice more than 2 times a week seriously what a joke
ReplyDeleteI don't understand why the gm expects these boys to look professional to games. Just take a look at there jersey and none match and there socks are full of holes. And half of them don't have name bars. What a joke! And this is what a JR hockey club is?
ReplyDeleteLet's see if their NEW coach can inject some life into the Storm.
ReplyDeletei think those two tiny 16 year old dmen are some of the most consistent players we have. they might not do as much as some of our big players, but they don not consistently play bad for the team.
ReplyDelete