Kelowna 6, Everett 4

Talking points

Apparently the week to iron out the deficiencies from last weekend’s games went for naught as the Tips made many of the same blunders that plagued them during the opening weekend. There were more defensive mistakes, more bad penalties and more indifferent goaltending. This time coach John Becanic finally lost his patience with Leland Irving as he gave Irving the hook after letting in four goals on 14 shots. A pillar of strength the past three years, Irving hasn’t looked anything like himself during the first three games. Too bad because Everett dominated large stretches of this game and probably did enough offensively to win.

Want a mind-blowing stat? Everett has now given up 17 goals in three games. Last season the Tips didn’t give up their 17th goal until NOVEMBER, a span of 14 games. Quite a different story so far this year.

Also, both Ondrej Fiala and Dane Crowley were back in the lineup for Everett. I wouldn’t say either of them were part of Everett’s problems as they both looked solid. And Tyler Skauge made his WHL debut and didn’t seem out of place.

Turning point

No question the final 1:04 of the first period determined tonight’s game. First, Dylan Hood just tosses a puck from the side boards toward goal and it sneaks past Irving, who never saw it, to break a 1-1 tie. Then the Rockets got another gift as Evan Bloodoff scores off the rush just as time expires, a rush that probably should never have been allowed to develop. The Tips easily could have prevented both those goals, and the hole they created proved too big to crawl out from.

Hit of the day

Not a whole lot of specific hits stood out. I guess the most memorable for me was when Everett’s Morgan MacLean smeared a Kelowna defenseman into the boards behind the Kelowna goal in the third period, setting up a scoring chance for Zack Dailey that was saved.

Three stars

First star: Dylan Hood, Kelowna. Only had one scoring chance all night and still managed to come away with two goals. Now that’s efficiency.

Second star: Kyle Beach, Everett. Scored two goals, and I don’t think he takes a single shift where he isn’t in the middle of things in some respect.

Third star: Brandon McMillan, Kelowna. Was probably Kelowna’s most dangerous player, scored the all-important fifth Rockets goal, and won a ton of faceoffs.

The Herald’s honorable mention: Dan Gendur, Everett. He’s beginning to look a lot like Peter Mueller when he plays the point on the power play. Another goal and two assists give him seven points in three games.

Scratches

For Everett, goaltender David Reekie is sick. Forwards Brennan Sonne, Brandon Campos and Vitali Karamnov were forced to the stands because of the returns of Fiala and Crowley, limiting the overage and Euro slots available. Forwards Jordan Mistelbacher and Eric English and defensemen Jeff Regier, Eddie Friesen and Chris de la Lande were healthy scratches.

For Kelowna, Forward Matthew Brusciano (concussion) and defenseman Colin Joe (wrist) were injured. Forward Milan Kytnar was left in Kelowna because he doesn’t have his U.S. visa yet.