Interview with the Coach - Nov 27

Notes from an interview w/ Killer on the TEAM 1200/ Buzz and Glenn Kulka this morning.


The 67s came off a road swing this weekend through Sudbury and Sault Ste Marie, winning both games in shootouts. They started out on the right foot in Sudbury, coming back from being down 3 goals after the first period. It gave everybody a lift, which carried over into the game in the Soo. They didn't panic when the got down by two goals, and came back with four straight of their own.

It's good for the young kids on the team to experience that. The veterans were all very satisfied with themselves. When you're losing, there's always a negative reaction and you can feel it in the [dressing] room and on the bus. Growing up is the most important part of the game.

Killer thought all of the defence played well, and after Grimaldi was thrown out of the game in the Soo they really stepped it up. He thought maybe they should get Grimaldi thrown out of games earlier if that's the way they're going to respond. :) The league will review Grimaldi's hit from behind and decide whether it warrants a suspension.

When asked, the coach didn't think reffing was a part of either game this weekend [i.e. didn't have an effect on the outcome]. There were no penalties called in the first period in the soo, and they "got away" with some 5-on-3s (i.e. didn't allow PP goals). He is concerned that there are some "hooking" penalties being called when all the player is doing is lifting the guy's stick. He doesn't think that the clutching and grabbing is creeping back into the game like it is in the NHL, but lifting the stick is just checking and checking is part of the game. Kilrea said he only yelled at the ref a couple of times this weekend.

He said Morrison is on top of his game right now, winning 2 shootouts. He'll play on Tuesday against Kingston, and Flueler will get a start next weekend when the team plays three games in three days. In the shootout, Killer thinks it's best to start with your best players instead of holding them back because you might not get to use them. The game dictates who goes. (Ed.'s note: He went with Biduke, Couture, McGinn and Liscomb both nights. McGinn and Liscomb both scored both nights)

Couture is playing in the Canada-Russian series tonight in Oshawa, and then will meet back up with the team in Kingston on Tuesday night. (Ed.'s note: Interesting stat -- Kingston also won both their games on the weekend in shootouts! Also, Couture finally got his first goal of the season Saturday, deflecting a point shot by Joslin in the second period.)

Ottawa has two or three games in hand on the leaders in their division. They've battled back to stay in the mix. For Killer though, he looks at it as being 11 points out of first place. They'll have an opportunity to close the gap tomorrow night.

Coming up this weekend, a home and home series with Oshawa, and then back to the Civic Centre on Sunday to take on Windsor. Both those teams have been struggling as of late. Hopefully the 67s can capitalize and get themselves back to competing for the top of the division.