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Sports
This is a commentary on the recent game between two teams.
Wouldn't it be just the sweetest revenge for the Kamloops Klippers if they could deny the Prince George Pirates the Western Division title they covet so dearly?
The Klippers' own playoff hopes might be faint, but they can dash any intention the Pirates have of catching the Penticton Ponies by denying them a point here, a point there -- that's almost like a ticket to the post-season in Kamloops, isn't it?
The Klippers did exactly that at the Kamloops Kolesium Sunday, snapping a six-game losing streak and skating to a 3-2 victory that just might cost the Pirates plenty.
"We knew what we had to do," said coach Billy Simpson after his Klippers beat the Pirates for the third time in four meetings.
"Every night is a fight for us and the margin of error is null."
A win would have given the Pirates 60 points and moved them into a first-place tie with the Ponies atop the Western Division.
But they coughed up a 2-0 lead -- Jake Williams got the winner in the third period -- and didn't look like a team nearly as desperate as the Klippers.
"We didn't play with the punch we've played with all year," Pirates coach Kerry Kruger said.
"That's the first time I say that, and that's really disappointing.
The Klippers, bumped from the playoff picture last season when the Pirates defeated the Nelson Nessies 5-4 in overtime March 15, aren't settling for a role in second place just yet this time around.
"We've been like this all year," Kruger sneered.
"We were counted down and out before the season started.
"It's not going to change any night with us.
"Even if you win, people question why you win."
The victory gives the Klippers 52 points and leaves them five points back of seventh-place Nelson for the final playoff spot in the Western Division title.
"Some people probably didn't think we'd come back and compete like that," said Klippers goaltender John Ellis, who was beaten on the power play by Roger Ranger and Rob Rickard in the opening four minutes, then shut the door.
"That just shows the kind of people we have here.
"We're not giving up.
All three Kamloops goals came on the power play as Kevin Petersun and Lance Lister tied it in the first period before Williams shovelled the rebound of Phil Hobarth's point-shot behind Ted Simpson 5:09 into the third.
"It's from mistakes, from miscues.
"We can't have that -- not with nine games to go.
"We didn't play a desperate hockey game.
"They did."
"They get two points, we don't."
This opportunity blown, the coach has to wonder what it takes to inject some urgency into his club.
They just put a four-game losing skid behind them, but blew this one without much fight or fury.
"You guys have talked about critical games, well, this was a critical game.
"It was a missed opportunity for us, flat-out."
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