Quotes and Notes

This is a bit belated because I had assignments most of the day, but as promised, here are Coach Ruskowski's quotes on last night's 4-1 loss to the Corpus Christi IceRays from my story in today's paper:

On the Bucks' effort: I think somebody put it pretty well in the dressing room, that nobody showed up tonight. I just don’t understand why. If they can’t get up for such an important game like tonight, then I’ve got major problems. How do you not get motivated for a game like this? It’s an important game for both teams. This was our building, our fans, and we didn’t give them anything to cheer for. It was very disappointing to have that kind of result.

On the IceRays scoring first: I think the first goal took us out of it. We’ve had a hard time scoring against this team, and when they scored that first goal, I felt it was a big goal for them. Of course, when they scored the second goal, it was a huge one to really take the air out of our balloon.

On the 3-on-5 goal: We didn’t get many chances to score, and when we did we shot it right into the goalie’s belly, we didn’t make him work for it at all. It was nice to see that goal go in, don’t get me wrong, but it was just too little, too late.

On the power play: Our power play was nonexistent today. We tried changing it around a little bit, but the guys didn’t seem like they wanted to. We changed it up after the second period, but they didn’t do it. That was disappointing. They didn’t do the job overall.

On the performance of Kevin Desfosses: I don’t think he played badly at all. I can’t put the blame on him at all; I put the blame on defensive coverage, picking up guys and not doing their job properly. We just didn’t have anybody attacking. We didn’t have anybody winning those battles along the boards to make plays. It was very frustrating to watch the team play the way they did.

I asked Ruskowski about Desfosses again today, as far as whether or not he believed his confidence could be wavering after losing four straight decisions, and he said he doesn't see that as the case.

Pier-Olivier Pelletier was back on the ice for practice, but he was coughing through most of it, so he might need to stay on the bench for another game or two.

Ruskowski said that decision will be made tomorrow.

As mentioned in response to a prior comment, defenseman Jarred Mohr and forward Robin Richards sat out of today's practice to rest nagging injuries.

Mohr's is an upper-body affliction, but I'm not all too sure what's wrong with Richards.

They are both expected to play tomorrow, while defenseman Mike Looby, who has missed the past two games, is still day-to-day.

Igor Agarunov, who moved back to defense late in last night's game, was suited up as a d-man for practice today and may have to play on the blue line tomorrow against the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees.

The Bucks' next two opponents faced off this morning, and Killer Bees picked up a 6-2 win over the Arizona Sundogs to keep themselves in a hunt for a playoff spot.

The Bucks (28-20-10, 66 points) can clinch their own spot with a regulation win over the Killer Bees tomorrow but will still be fighting for position even if they manage that.

Obviously, the top two teams in the Southern Conference are worlds away from their competition, but the four battling for the other three spots are just nine points apart from top to bottom.

Heading into tomorrow's games, the standings are:

Texas Brahmas: 31-22-6, 68 points
Bucks: 28-20-10, 66 points
IceRays: 27-24-8, 62 points
Killer Bees: 25-25-9, 59 points

The Bucks have a game in hand on the other three teams but are the only team with three games on the schedule over the next three days.

Speaking of that schedule, Ruskowski is not very thrilled with it, and you can read what he had to say about that in my story in tomorrow's paper.

Keep in mind two things: 1. This is the seventh straight 3-in-3 weekend for the Bucks. 2. They will get on the bus on Saturday night after hosting the Sundogs at 7:30 p.m., drive over seven hours to North Richland Hills, lose an hour to Daylight Savings Time, then play at 4 p.m. in a building they have yet to win in this season against a team that doesn't even play the day before.

Okay, I guess that turns out to be more than two things. But any way you look at it, the schedule is pretty tough for the Bucks.

Adam Rivet said he thinks sometimes the team steps up in the last games of those 3-in-3 situations, but any group of players is bound to be tired after four games in less than five days.

Meanwhile, for more on yesterday's game and what the win meant for the IceRays, you can check out Greg Rajan's blog and his game story, and for more on the Killer Bees' win today, you can read Brian Sandalow's blog and his game story.

I have to run for now, but I'll try to find some time to post before tomorrow night's game.