Chiefs Take Command Aggressive Play On Defense Keys Victory, 3-1 Lead

The Spokane Chiefs really didn’t need any help to regain command of their Western Hockey League playoff series Friday night, not with Trent Whitfield on the loose and the Kelowna Rockets unable to fight through the Chiefs’ defensive wall.

But the Rockets did their part anyway, their frustration showing with each goal Spokane scored in a 4-0 victory, with every untimely penalty they took, with every Kelowna forward who was held up trying - and mostly failing - to go to the net.

Chiefs coach Mike Babcock is either a defensive genius or is getting generous rules interpretations from the referee.

Leading the best-of-7 series 3-1, the Chiefs are back in the Arena tonight at 7 hoping to wrap this up. Should the Rockets win, Game 6 will be in Kelowna on Monday night.

Scoreless in his last two games, Whitfield opened the scoring on the power play in the second period, then hit the back of the net 30 seconds into the third period for the critical insurance goal.

Whitfield’s inspired play brought applause from both coaches.

But after Kelowna coach Pete Anholt gave Whitfield and the Chiefs their due, he took a shot at referee Kevin Acheson.

“I was a little disappointed the referee didn’t call more interference (penalties),” Anholt said. “Certainly our guys got frustrated and took some penalties but they (the Chiefs) were planting their feet and holding our guys up on the forecheck. We’re telling our guys to battle through the screens, these guys (the Chiefs) keep on continuing to screen us and the referee’s not calling it.

“And he thinks he called a good game. If he calls those interference penalties, it turns the game around.”

Joe Cardarelli and Ty Jones also scored for the Chiefs, who got a 21-save shutout from goaltender Aren Miller.

Kelowna netminder Aaron MacDonald kept the Rockets close with 43 saves. His frustration boiled over in the third period after he kicked out John Cirjak’s shot, only to have Jones waltz in and bury the rebound. MacDonald shattered his stick on the crossbar in anger.

It wasn’t so much what Spokane did to take advantage of Kelowna’s penalties (the Chiefs were only 1 of 9 on the power play) it’s all the time and energy the Rockets spent in uneven situations having to kill penalties. They’re a better club when they stay out of the box and skate five skaters.

The Chiefs lost Derek Schutz midway through the third period when a high stick opened a gash over and under his left eye. Spokane also rested Chad Reich after the issue was settled in the third period. Reich is dealing with a pulled groin.

A number of Chiefs had ice bags attached to arms and wrists after the game, souvenirs from Kelowna slashes.

So are the Chiefs pushing the intent of the interference rule?

“Screening is part of the game,” Babcock said. “You work hard to establish body position. We thought they did a good job doing that against us on Wednesday night.

Beyond that issue, Babcock is pushing the right buttons. His team worked hard and played smarter.

“Whitfield hands down was the best player on the ice,” Babcock said.

Anholt agreed, “Whitfield was an impact guy tonight,” he said, before explaining his interpretation of interference.

“They (the Chiefs) are holding them (the Rockets) up, and they’re not moving their feet. You’re supposed to have to move your feet - you’re forced to move your feet - when you’re the screener. Spokane doesn’t do that and the referees continue to let them get away with it, over and over and over.

“Give them credit, they do it really well. And you saw how our guys got frustrated by it as the game went on. But I think if Acheson calls those penalties early on, all of a sudden we’re getting in on the forecheck and playing more in their end as opposed to them playing in ours. If he calls it the way it’s supposed to be called, then the game turns around the other way.”

Chiefs 4, Rockets 0

Kelowna 0 0 0 - 0

Spokane 0 1 3 - 4

First period-None. Key penalties-Wade, Kel, 1:32; Rossiter, Spo, 4:41; Schutz, Spo, 7:18; Fedoruk, Kel, 12:40; McLean, Kel, misconduct, 17:39.

Second period-1, Spokane, Whitfield 3 (Cirjak, Cisar), 8:44 (pp). Key penalties-Hamilton, Kel, 7:22; Wade, Kel, 10:02.

Third period-2, Spokane, Whitfield 4 (Leeb, Hamilton), :30. 3, Spokane, Cardarelli 4 (Magarrell), 1:26. 4, Spokane, Jones 3 (Cirjak, Hamilton), 10:38. Key penalties-King, Kel, 7:04; Wade, Kel, 9:14; MacDonald, Kel, misconduct, 10:38; McLean, Kel, 12:22; Mallette, Kel, 12:51; Mallette, Kel, 16:56; Hamilton, Spo, 17:26.

Power-play opp.-Kelowna 0 of 3; Spokane 1 of 9. Saves-Kelowna, MacDonald 15-12-16-43. Spokane, Miller 5-6-10-21. A-7,606.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: TONIGHT Game 5: Kelowna at Spokane, 7 (Chiefs lead best-of-7 series, 3-1).