(File photo)
It was a déjà vu for the Osoyoos Coyotes on Wednesday when they faced the Kelowna Chiefs and suffered a 5-2 loss – the same as the teams’ last meeting in December.
The game started off slow for both teams, with the first goal of the night scored by Kelowna with only 27 seconds left on the clock in the first frame.
Osoyoos head coach Mark Chase said the team had a strong first period with quality execution and were on track to a defensively sound game.
However, the second period saw three more goals from the Chiefs and was a “total state of untidiness,” Chase said.
“We were slow and disorganized.”
The Coyotes managed two goals in the third frame, a power play score by Brock Marple at 12:41 followed by another from Daelen Der only a minute later, but weren’t able to secure a comeback.
A fifth goal for Kelowna, marking a hat trick for Chief Brody Dale, with three minutes left in the game guaranteed the team’s home-ice win.
Chase said the team’s play also resulted in a “procession to the penalty box.”
The Coyotes had 112 penalty minutes throughout the night, compared to Kelowna’s 58.
“In our last three games, we’ve lost due to special teams and 53 per cent of our goals against have come while short handed,” Chase said. “If we are to have success against the upper echelon teams then we will need to be more disciplined.”
Coyotes are taking muy muy penalties and Chiefs are eating them alive on the power play.
— KelownaChiefs (@KelownaChiefs) January 3, 2019
Coyotes’ goalie Bailey Monteith blocked 35 of 40 shots against him, while Osoyoos managed to make 24 shots throughout the night.
The Coyotes are back on the ice this weekend when they travel to take on the Revelstoke Grizzlies on Friday and the Chase Heat on Saturday.
