Babcock Says He Expects More Energetic Skating

So, were the Chiefs that bad in the third period Saturday night or was it the fire of the Edmonton Ice that turned a budding Spokane rout into a game won modestly by the Chiefs 5-3?

Coach Mike Babcock closed the Chiefs locker room for a few minutes after the game - something he rarely does - to reaffirm what he called a “basic statement.

“The basic statement around here is that … we have to sacrifice individual interests for team interests,” he said.

Asked if that was addressed to particular players, the coach replied, “Nope, just to the team.”

That said, how did Babcock see Saturday’s game in which a tired Edmonton team had more jump as the third period wore on?

“There were two stages to it,” he said. “We scored bang-bang on our first two power plays, then our guys shut her down, no question. We got it rollin’ again in the second period but when it got to be 5-1 …”

Out came the second Spokane meltdown.

“Let’s be honest,” Babcock said. “We should have played at a higher level.”

Exempted was Trent Whitfield, who scored one short-handed goal and set up another in the second period - the first time Babcock can remember a club of his scoring twice on the penalty kill in a single period.

“It was great to get Whitfield back, in the sense that he hasn’t been as good offensively, or hasn’t been as fluid, as he normally is,” Babcock said. “He was great for us.”

Goaltender update

Babcock said he and assistant Mike Pellino will look at both goaltenders Aren Miller and David Haun before deciding who starts Wednesday night here against the Moose Jaw Warriors.

Haun had some anxious moments late Saturday night but got generally good marks after stopping 29 of Edmonton’s 32 shots.

“I thought he backed in as the game went on - he’s got to play out - but overall I thought he was good,” Babcock said.

Miller was yanked the night before in the third period after the Portland Winter Hawks scored twice in 32 seconds, the second goal coming on the wraparound by Mike Hurley.

Miller had to deal with more quality chances than Haun saw against Edmonton, but it was clear after the game that Babcock was less than thrilled with Miller’s performance.

, DataTimes