Courier: Rockets-Tigers preview
r By Doyle Potenteau – Kelowna Daily Courier
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r When it comes to the Medicine Hat Tigers, one word comes to mind: Fast.
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r Since taking over as head coach, then general manager of the Central Division squad, Willie Desjardins reshaped what had been a sad-sack team into a perennial contender. Consider this: After missing the playoffs for five consecutive seasons (1997-98 to 2001-02) the Tigers hired Desjardins in 2002-03 and haven‘t missed the post-season since. Medicine Hat has also won two league titles under Desjardins.
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r Tonight, the Tigers (3-1-1-1) roll into Prospera Place for a 7 p.m. tilt against the Kelowna Rockets (3-2-1-0), a team that also has speed.
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r “When you think of Medicine Hat, you think of a team that‘s fast and great on transition,” said Rockets head coach Ryan Huska, whose young club mirrors that statement. “They skate well and they pressure teams. That isn‘t anything different from what we expect from them. They all buy into working hard and skating as fast as they can.”
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r Statistically, this is a pick-‘em match, in that neither team has an advantage. For example, the Tigers have 23 goals for and 23 against, while Kelowna has 25 and 22. The Tigers have eight points, the Rockets seven, and both are third in their divisions and fourth in their conferences. Further, Medicine Hat is 2-0-1-1 at home and 1-1 on the road, while the Rockets are 2-0-1-0 at home and 1-2 on the road. In addition, the Tigers average 22.3 penalty minutes per game, while the Rockets‘ average is 23.3. Medicine Hat is 1-0 and 3-0 when leading after 20 and 40 minutes, while Kelowna is 1-0-1 and 3-0-1.
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r Close? You bet, with tonight‘s score likely to be closer than their respective power-play percentages. Which, by the way, have Medicine Hat at 25.0 per cent (7-for-28) and Kelowna at 25.7 per cent (9-for-35).
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r However, there is one item in the Rockets‘ favour: Playing at Prospera Place.
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r Over the last five years, the Tigers are 1-4-1 in Kelowna‘s den, and the Rockets are coming off a weekend sweep of Chilliwack, having outscored the Bruins 13-6.
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r “We definitely had a good weekend, one where the guys are feeling good about themselves,” said Huska. “They‘re understanding of the style we have to play if we‘re going to give ourselves a chance to win, and that‘s the best thing that came out of the weekend.
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r “Our players saw that if they skate hard, they have a chance for success, and that‘s the most important thing. We feel we have forwards who can skate this season, and we want to pressure as much as we can.”
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r In other news, the Rockets will again be without the services of top blue-liner Tyson Barrie, who is recovering from knee and shoulder injuries suffered two weekends ago. The 18-year-old from Victoria was hit awkwardly into the boards in a 4-1 loss in Kamloops on Sept. 25, and has been out action since. The Rockets say he‘s likely one week away from playing, though the 5-foot-10 rearguard skated by himself on Monday and is expected to skate some more this week.
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r The Rockets also lost defenceman Mitchell Chapman (shoulder, two weeks) and centre Max Adolph (ankle, four weeks) in that game. Chapman, like Barrie, is also skating, but is doubtful this weekend, while Adolph isn‘t skating yet.
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r Also out is over-age goalie Mark Guggenberger, who hasn‘t dressed for one minute this season due to a pelvis injury. The 20-year-old from Richfield, Minn., is being re-evaluated this week, and his return is indefinite.
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