Friday, November 28, 2008

Rockets Game Notes vs. Chilliwack

Tonight’s Preview: This is the third meeting of the season between the Rockets and Bruins. The Rockets are 2-0-0-0 against the Bruins this season after 5-0 and 6-0 wins. The Rockets have not allowed a goal by Chilliwack in 125 minutes 57 seconds. The last Bruin to score a goal against the Rockets was Evan Pighin, who scored at the 14:03 mark of the third period in a game March 12th of last season. The Rockets open a five game home stand tonight with dates against the Bruins (twice), Saskatoon, Regina and Swift Current. The Rockets host Saskatoon Wednesday before hosting Regina Saturday. The Rockets are coming off a 6-2 win in Prince George Saturday. Mitchell Callahan had two goals in the win while Colin Long had a goal and three assists. The Rockets directed 40 shots on goal while Adam Brown made 25 saves in the win. Overall the Rockets have won 4 straight, with victories over the Cougars (twice), Tri City and Kamloops. Over that period the Rockets have out-scored the opposition 21-6.

Five Alive: The Rockets had a record of 4-1-0-0 in their last five game home stand between October 24th and November 1st. The Rockets longest home stand of the season is seven straight at Prospera Place between December 30th and January 14th. Tonight the Rockets enter a portion of their schedule playing 13 of their next 17 games at home.
Long Wonderful vs. the Wack: Rockets forward Colin Long is riding a 12 game point streak against the Chilliwack Bruins dating back to last season. The last time Long failed to register a point against the ‘Wack’ was February 24/07 in a 7-1 loss in Chilliwack. Long has 3+3=6 in two games against Chilliwack this season.
McColgan Makes His Mark: Fifteen year-old Shane McColgan has signed a WHL contract with the Kelowna Rockets. McColgan was selected in the first round of this summers WHL Bantam draft. McColgan is the third American born player selected by the Rockets in the opening round, behind Luke Moffatt (07) and Jason Ryznar (99).
Shooting Out the Lights: The Rockets have scored 6 or more goals – eight times this season. The Rockets have managed to score 6 or more goals three times against the Cougars, with single game outbursts against Kamloops, Kootenay, Everett, Chilliwack and Seattle. Last season the Rockets scored 6 or more goals 12 times.
Hattrick Heaven: Brandon McMillan became the third Rockets player this season to register a hat trick in last Fridays 7-3 win in Prince George. McMillan joins Jamie Benn and Cody Almond on that list. Who was the last Rockets player to recorded two or more hat tricks in one season? Justin Keller had three – three goal games in 05/06.
Number Crunching: The Rockets longest winning streak last season was 7 games. That streak took place between December 31/07 and January 12/08…The Rockets have just 3 power play goals in their last six games. That’s 3 goals in their last 25 chances (8.3%). The good news is the Rockets have not allowed a power play goal in four games, killing off 17 straight power play chances. In the teams last six games the penalty killing unit has given up just four goals in 29 opportunities.
Lov’n Laz: Rockets goaltender Kris Lazaruk has won back-to-back games for the first time since back-to-back victories September 26th and 27th against Kamloops. Lazaruk has allowed just one goal in his last two games (0.50) and has stopped 41 of 42 shots (.976) in those two starts. Lazaruk has 64 career victories.
Coming Off a Win: How do the Rockets fair the game following a win? The Rockets have been in that situation 16 times this season and have followed that up with another victory 10 times.
Scoring 3 and Feeling Glee: The Rockets are 16-3-0-0 when they score 3 or more goals. The only three games where they’ve scored three or more goals and lost were 5-3 to Vancouver, 8-6 to Everett and 7-3 to Lethbridge. The Rockets are 9-4-0-0 in games where they’ve allowed 3 or more goals.
Three Rockets Eligible: NHL Central Scouting has released it’s first list of the Western Hockey League players eligible for this summers draft. Tyson Barrie is rated 8th, Collin Bowman is 22nd and Stepan Novotny is ranked 23rd. The top rated WHL player for the draft is Spokane’s Jared Cowan.
Two @ A-D-T: Jamie Benn and Tyler Myers have returned from the A-D-T Canada-Russia Challenge. Benn picked up two assists in a 5-0 win over the Russians Wednesday in Swift Current but was shutout one night later in the WHL’s 2-1 win. Tyler Myers failed to earn a point in both games, but picked up one minor penalty.
Broadcaster Tidbits: The Rockets have scored 104 goals this season...The Rockets have scored 34 power play goals this season, the third most in the WHL. Only Vancouver (41) and Calgary (39) have scored more times with the extra man…Jamie Benn has scored the most goals in the WHL this season with 22. Benn leads Brandon Kozun of the Calgary Hitmen by just three goals….Rockets defenseman Tyson Barrie is second in scoring by defenseman with 27 points. Vancouver’s Jonathon Blum leads the way with 30…Two of the Rockets three shutouts this season have been on the road. Kris Lazaruk recorded one against Kamloops while Adam Brown turned the trick against the Chilliwack Bruins.
Schedule Maker: The Rockets play 9 more games before Christmas. Six of those games are on home ice. The three road games include dates in Calgary, Red Deer and Edmonton.
No Shootout/No OT: The Rockets have failed to play a game this season that has gone either to overtime or a shootout. The last overtime game the Rockets were involved in that ended in a decision was December 15/07 in a 3-2 overtime win in Saskatoon. Jamie Benn scored the game winner. The last time the Rockets were involved in a shootout was March 9/08 in a 4-3 shootout win in Chilliwack. Tyson Barrie technically scored the game winning goal in that contest. The Rockets were involved in 11 shootout games last season. Kelowna is joined by Portland and Saskatoon as the only three teams not involved in a shootout this season.

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