Desperation needed as playoff push tightens

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“On our power play, I thought we were stagnant,” Martin added about his team going 0/5 on the power play and 0 for 9 against the Blazers so far this season. “I thought on the power play we were individualistic. Guys weren’t running plays that we’ve practiced and worked on. Guys are trying to do more than what’s available to them. No one’s shooting enough pucks, and we’re not creating enough opportunities.” 

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The story at the end of the night is we don’t create enough opportunities at their net. The shot clock reads in our favour, but I don’t think we did enough to make them earn keeping pucks out of their own net. Plays died at their net.” 

Rookie forward Tommy Lafreniere sealed the game with a power play goal of his own, his 20th, in the third period as the Blazers moved five points ahead of the Rockets and within one point of both the T-Birds and Wild for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. 

“We are in a position now where every period, every shift is the biggest one of the season,” Martin added. “I need to see that desperation from the entire group.” 

The Blazers were without their leading scorer, Emmitt Finne, and 26-goal man Nathan Behm. Meanwhile, the Rockets lost veteran defenseman Jackson Gellespie early in the game and also scratched power forward Dawson Gerwing, who missed his first game since being traded from the Swift Current Broncos at the deadline. 

“There is a ton on the line for this group,” Martin continued. “There are guys playing for opportunities to be on a Memorial Cup team next year. There are guys playing for scholarships. Guys can move themselves up or down in the NHL draft. There’s an opportunity to get a sniff at semi-pro if they do it the right way.” 

With four more games against the Blazers, including a rematch tonight at Prospera Place at 6:05 p.m., Martin will be looking for a much better effort from his team. 

“When things are not going your way, you have to earn greasy goals,” Martin said about his team not capitalizing on several grade-A scoring chances. “Edmonstone played well, but we let him see lots of pucks. It isn’t a standard you want to see.” 

With a 12-game winless streak, the longest in franchise history, it has now been close to a month without a victory. The last time the Rockets celebrated a win was on January 18th in Seattle, when the final buzzer sounded, and the team secured a 5-2 win. 

“At this time of year, you are playing playoff hockey, you are playing for your lives, and we need more out of just about every guy,” Martin concluded.