Tonight’s Preview: The Rockets play game two of a five game home-stand tonight against the Brandon Wheat Kings. It’s the only meeting of the season between the two teams. These two teams met twice last season including December 12/2007 in Brandon with the Rockets earning a 5-4 win. Colin Long (2+3=5) and Jamie Benn (2+2=4) led the Rockets offensive attack. In Brandon’s last appearance at Prospera Place on February 14th, the Rockets earned a lopsided 8-2 victory. Colin Long (1+3=4) and Brady Leavold (2+3=5) led the attack. The last Wheat Kings win in Kelowna came October 28/06 in a 7-1 victory. Mark Derlago had two goals and two assists in the win while Luke Schenn scored the lone goal for the home team. The last time the Rockets shutout the Wheat Kings was October 30, 1999 in a 4-0 win. Kevin Swanson made 20 saves. Following tonight’s game the Rockets host Seattle Wednesday. The Rockets are 5-0-0-0 at home this season, and have won a season high three straight games overall.
Last Night’s Lime Light: Jamie Benn and Colin Long each scored twice and added an assist in a 6-0 win over Chilliwack. Cody Almond and Dylan Hood scored in the Rockets 9th win of the season. Adam Brown recorded the shutout making 14 saves. The Rockets were 3 for 6 on the power play and received a shorthanded goal from Benn in the third period. The Rockets out-shot the Bruins 36-14.
Brown Does It Again: For the second straight start, rookie goaltender Adam Brown earned a shutout. Brown becomes the first Rockets goaltender to record back-to-back shutouts since Derek Yeomans turned the trick with back-to-back goose eggs January 28/06 against Kootenay before another shutout against Everett February 1st. The last time the Rockets recorded back-to-back shutouts was February 3/2007 in a 2-0 win over Vancouver followed by a 4-0 victory over Portland February 7th. Oddly enough in the first shutout Kristofer Westblom and Torrie Jung shared the duties before Jung made 17 saves against the Winter Hawks. In case you are wondering, Kelly Guard had three consecutive shutouts in late October 2003 without allowing a goal against Prince Albert, Vancouver and Kamloops.
Cap’n Colin: The Rockets announced Thursday that 19 year-old Colin Long has been named the captain for 2008-2009. Long becomes the 17th captain in Rockets history. Long’s assistants are Jamie Benn, Cody Almond and Lucas Bloodoff. Long was the Rockets 11th round pick in the 2004 WHL draft.
Home Cook’n: The Rockets are 5-0-0-0 at home this season, having out-scored the opposition 26-8. The Rockets are riding a seven game home ice winning streak dating back to last season. The Rockets last home ice loss was a 2-0 setback to the Tri City Americans March 8/08.
That’s a Fact Jack: Jamie Benn has 9 goals in his last 6 games. Benn has 9+5=14 over that period. Benn is riding a 6 game point streak over that period….Colin Long is also riding a six game point streak (7+6=13)…Kyle St Denis has 5 goals in his last eight games and has 11 points in his last 6 contests…..Prior to Wednesday’s 5-0 shutout win in Chilliwack, when was the last time the Rockets recorded a shutout on the road? The Rockets shutout the Kootenay Ice 6-0 January 28/06 in Cranbrook….Long enters tonight’s game with 154 career points and is playing in his 175th game tonight…Long has points in eleven of his first thirteen games this season…The Rockets have scored a power play goal in 14 of the team’s 15 games this season. The only game where the Rockets were held off the score-sheet with the extra man was in a 4-1 loss in Medicine Hat…Kris Lazaruk has started 11 of the Rockets 15 games this season…Adam Brown has started in three straight. Brown is 4-0-0-0 as a starter….The Rockets have played in just three-one goal game this season. Those games were a 3-2 win Seattle Saturday, a 2-1 loss in Portland in game #2 and a 5-4 win in game #4…Tyson Barrie leads the WHL in scoring by defenseman. Barrie has 18 points. Thirteen of Barrie’s 18 points this season have been on the power play (4+9=13).
Who’s Hot – Who’s Not: Cody Almond has points in seven of his last nine games. Almond has 4+4=8 over that period. Almond is playing in his 174th career game tonight. Kyle St. Denis has 5+8=13 in his last eight games. Colin Long has been held off the scoreboard by Lethbridge and Vancouver this season. Jamie Benn has 45 goals in just 63 career games. Tyson Barrie has points in ten of his first fifteen games.
Dare to Compare: Last season the Rockets were 7-6-1-1 in their first fifteen games. The Rockets scored 47 goals in their first fifteen games last season. After fifteen games a year ago the Rockets had allowed 47 goals against. The Rockets are 4 and 6 on the road this season, having been out-scored 40-34. Last year after ten road games the Rockets were 6-3-0-1, and outscored the opposition 35-27.
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