LONG ROAD TRIP AWAITS STRUGGLING WOLVES

Thunder Bay, ON- After starting the season without a loss in six games, the Thunder Bay Timberwolves have now suffered two in as many games.

>>>Wednesday's loss to the Portland Owls was one of too many early goals against, but a sign of resiliancy by ending it closer than it should have been.

>>>Friday's loss against the Karlstad Killers? Not even close.

>>>Brian Elliott did not look sharp on Wednesday. Thus, Jonas Hiller made his second start of the season against the Killers. The result would not change.

>>>Karlstad opened the scoring and by the end of the first period had the Timberwolves doubled up 2-1. Not a overall bad start for Thunder Bay, but the team as a whole seemed lacking.

>>>In the second period, both teams played a safe game. But Karlstad's Alexander Semin notched another goal for the Killers and it was 3-1 going into the third.

>>>Derek Roy made it 4-1 early into the final period, only to be countered by a Timberwolves goal from Patrick Sharp (pictured) moments later to cut the lead in half. But the momentum of Sharp's goal provided nothing and the Killers would run away with two more goals to finish off Thunder Bay 6-2.

>>>"For whatever reason, and there shouldn't be any, we just weren't in it," said Timberwolves captain, Keith Ballard. "We were well rested, thought the practises and the morning skate went well. All the guys seemed in the zone. But we were not there today. Karlstad is a very good club, don't get me wrong. But we should've been closer than that."

>>>One line in particular that was torn apart by the Killers was Matt Duchene's second line with Simon Gagne and Ales Hemsky, and the third defensive pairing of Nick Schultz and Carl Gunnarsson. All five players were a -4 and the only minus players for the Timberwolves.

>>>"Obviously they got lit up today," said Timberwolves interim head coach, Ryan McGill. "The matchup wasn't in our favour all game and it's disappointing that when they scored it was that group out there. Couple rookies there (Duchene and Gunnarsson), but that's no excuse. We were outplayed, overmatched and got our butts kicked. No time to dwell on it. We move on and prepare for the next one."

>>>The next one is on the road against the Victoria Ronin, who beat the Timberwolves in the pre-season 5-4 in overtime.

>>>Victoria is the first a five game road trip over the next ten days. An excursion that will burn alot of jet fuel. After Victoria, it's on to Long Island, Denver, Havana and then Copenhagen. A logistics nightmare.

>>>"We'll have clean uniforms and extra players sent to Denver for the puddle jumping to the Caribbean and up the hill to Denmark," said Timberwolves GM, Blake Wendt who will not be with the club in Victoria, but will join them on the way to New York and the remainder of the trip.

>>>

>>>3-STARS

>>>

>>>*Alexander Semin (KRL) - 2 goals and an assist

>>>**Peter Regin (KRL) - 1 goal and 2 assists

>>>***Patrick Marleau (KRL)- 1 goal and 2 assists