DC Rage lose 3-2 to Kenai River Brown Bears

Couldn't get the pre-game up, internet at the rink wasn't letting me access blogger, so here's the post game.

My keys to the game were:

Rage:

1. Stay out of the penalty box. That's what got them into trouble last weekend with the Avs and if they have hopes to get out of this series with a positive record, they need to worry less about their PK and more about 5-on-5 hockey.
2. Keep physical. The American game is stressing speed in this league and the Rage can force turnovers by getting to pucks first on defenders and pressure them with hits.
3. Strong goaltending: right now it would be a huge lift for the Rage to get a massive performance from one of their goalies. They aren't struggling in the crease, but it'll help build momentum.


Kenai
1. Box out. The Rage so far have shown that they like to pressure the slot and crash the crease. They'll have to be big in front of their goaltender and force the Rage to play on the outside.
2. Utilize the wings. If Keenai has the same speed the Avs showed, they should be able to turn defenders by breaking wide.
3. Win special teams. Right now the Rage are operating pretty well when one-man short, and a powerplay goal can swing the ice the other way.

Rage succeeded in staying out of the box, only allowing three man-advantages compared to the basically five per game minimum last weekend, and they didn't allow a PP goal against, but their physical play was lacking and Dyson unfortunately got caught with a poke-check that missed and essentially allowed the third goal. Dyson was otherwise very strong through the game.

Kenai did a great job of cutting off all angles to the net, and started to use the wings in the second period and really controlled most of the possession after losing the majority of the draws in the first. They overall lost the special teams battle, allowing one PPG on two opportunities but otherwise controlled the pace.

Dakota Mason notched both goals for the Rage, one in the first period that was responded by Bears' forward Daniel Turgeon five minutes later. Doug Beck put the Bears up early in the second frame. Eventually Mason would find a fortuitious bounce off a Nolan Rossiter shot that caromed off the stick of Trent Wohlers, leaving Mason with a wide-open net on that netminder Josh Benton had no chance on. But late in the third, Zack Capozza found an equally fortunate chance off a scramble behind the net that gave Kenai the win.

DC was outshot 36-31 in the game. The second match of the three-game set is Saturday night at 7pm, with the third at 2pm on Sunday.