More from Chiefs impressive home opener
Blame Mother Nature. The follow-up on the Spokane Chiefs home opener, a solid 5-2 win over Western Hockey League rival Tri-City before a good crowd of 9,500, should have been done on Sunday. But a check of the 5-day weather indicated that getting outside for work and play, seemed like the best play for an official day off. There's a long, cold winter ahead for Sunday morning computer work. Anyway, in addition to the game story, columnist John Blanchette had a column on newcomer Kyle Beach (above in Dan Pelle's picture from Saturday night). There are also some leftover comments below.
The 5-on-3 power play was a pleasure to watch and if the season plays how the Chiefs envision it, it could be a defining moment for the season. Patiently waiting for the right moment, they moved the puck around with precision, with Mitch Wahl centering the line with Levko Koper and Kyle Beach with veterans Jared Cowen and Stefan Ulmer on defense. They must have fired at least a half dozen shots, some that missed the net, but pounced on every loose puck and resumed the play, before Beach ended the torture after 1:45 had elapsed. So often with a two-man advantage a team will press, trying to get a quick goal so there is plenty of time to get a second. In this case, the Chiefs were looking for a knockout blow and played the situation perfectly.
"With a 2-minute five-on-three we weren't going to rush anything," Wahl said. "We were going to take our time and be patient. We scored with 15 seconds left, we waited for our chance." Coach Hardy Sauter said, "We gove over different options, show them what the opposition is trying to do (on the penalty kill) but tonight, those five guys ... that's probably as good, for a 2-minute five-on-three ... that's how you would draw it up."
The other notable part of the opener was the debut of former Everett bad-guy Beach, picked up in a trade with Lethbridge on Wednesday. The player every opponent despises lived up to his reputation with a penalty on his first shift and an assist and two goals by the time the evening ended.
"He's one of those guys you love to hate as an opponent," Sauter said. "Obviously we got him for a reason, we wanted him to add some offense. Tonight is a good example, he came up with two goals in a big game. Those are the kinds of things we expect him to do. He practiced with us two days, we expect him to get better and complement his teammates."
"It was a little shaky off the start," Beach said, adding that it started before the first shift. "Following up (Tyler Johnson) in the introductions isn't the best way to do it either. We had a great shift going, we had them hemmed in. I was trying to get better position. I thought I could get away with a little slash, a little hook. Unfortunately the ref thought it was a little too much. I played hockey for long enough I should know (how to react). (My teammates) just encouraged me to keep working hard. Don’t worry about that one, make the next one count, basically."
Which he did in a big way.
The penalty made a promising opening minute turn into a shaky 5 minutes before Wahl's line, with precision passing between Koper, Beach and Wahl, whose nifty move tied the game just before the midway point of the first period. "They’re talented guys," Sauter said. "Usually good players will find each other. I hope they just keep doing it, I don’t care why."
The goal was important, especially since the Americans scored on that initial power play, although it appeared to be a shot James Reid should have gloved.
"The first goal tonight was due mostly to nerves but after that he settled in and played real, real good," Sauter said. Then, looking at the first 10 minutes, he said, "We had two breakaways, first shift of the game we had a chance to score and end up taking a penalty. I think our group was nervous to start, no doubt. Excited yes, but nervous as well. Once we got through the initial shock factor, and got our legs under us, got a goal, it was OK, we’re just in a hockey game, we know what we're supposed to do here. The guys just kept playing."
Somewhat lost in everything - the home opener hoopla, the debut of Beach and the win - was the return of Cowen. The ninth overall pick in the June NHL draft spent all fall at Ottawa's camp as they monitored his rehabilitation from knee surgery. He season finished in late January because of an injury and the Senators just wanted to keep an eye on their investment. Well, quite frankly, he looked great and seems to be a natural with the captain's C.
Being a first round draft pick, wearing the C, could be a lot of pressure for any player but Cowen erased that quickly with a third-period power play goal. "It’s good to have expectations, it means people think highly of you," Cowen said. "But at the same time, you’ve still got to play within yourself."
Cowen didn't play in back-to-back games with Ottawa. However, after the opener he said he felt fine and could go again. Still, he six days between games with the next action Portland coming in Friday before the Chiefs head to Tri-City on Saturday.