But last night let's just say pride prevailed!
That and the fact that the Kamloops Blazers provided the opposition was enough motivation in itself as the Rockets earned a 3-2 shoot-out win.
Chris Ray scored the game winner, while rookie Torrie Jung stopped all three shooters he faced for his 1st career win under the format after suffering three (SOL) losses.
It couldn't have been a better situation for the Rockets than to have the Blazers provide the opposition Friday night. The Rockets earned 11 points against them this season, the most of any team they faced this year.
But before you get to excited about winning against a team that opens the playoffs next Friday against the Prince George Cougars, the Blazers were playing without Ray Macius, Jusso Puustinen, and Victor Bartley and backup Dayln Flett got the start in goal.
Those three players would have made an impact, as would have #1 goaltender Dustin Butler, yet Blazers Head Coach Dean Clark made the wise choice by sitting the four for a little r and r.
Or was it a wise choice?
The Blazers are now winless in 12 straight road games, with their last win coming almost two months ago in a 3-2 win in Seattle in late January.
While the Blazers have home ice advantage in the opening round, no less than two of those games in that series with Prince George will have to be played in 'Cougar Country', so to say home advantage is huge for the Blazers is an understatement.
But let's not take away from the Rockets effort, a solid game, all things considered.
It was the teams 21st win of the season and 15th of the year at Prospera Place, just one shy of the teams lowest home ice win total of 16 set in the 1999-2000 season.
Regan's Ramblings:
I asked Rockets Head Coach Jeff Truitt about the article in the Edmonton Sun this week suggesting he is being considered for an A.H.L job with the Edmonton Oilers farm team.
Truitt was pleased he was even being mentioned.
"I remember a couple of years ago when Marc (Habschied) went through this with Pittsburgh."
"My name being mentioned in that article is flattering their is no doubt about it but I have had no talks with Edmonton, I have had no talks with anybody, nor will I until the season is over with", Truitt added.
Rockets forward Brett Breitkruez was wearing a new jersey in the second period after getting some blood on it after a 1st period scrap with Blazers d-man Ryan White. Breitkruez wore the same jersey number (#20), yet the name bar was not attached.
Ever wonder why Justin Bernhardt is the last player off the ice during the Rockets warm up? I'll try to find out the answer tonight when the Rockets end the season against Prince George. Superstition maybe?
Despite several empty seats at last night's game, paid attendance was again over 6 thousand. The crowd made more noise than normal mainly because of a good contingent of Blazer fans who brought a couple of bus loads up for the game.
What was Shaw cable thinking?
I had a chance to catch the start of the Giants-Cougars game last night and was amazed that they showed the entire Giants on-ice year end awards ceremony. Shaw was obviously aware that it was going to happen, because they had the graphics on the screen with the award presenters and award winners.
With a Western Canadian audience tuning in, couldn't Shaw have found something more appropriate to fill the time with?
Hello Shaw!!
Who friggin cares? Unless your a Giants fan.
While Bill Wilms and Dan Russell were gushing over the merits of the individual award winners, hockey fans outside of the Vancouver area again have another example of how Shaw has been leaning heavily towards the Giants all season long in it's biased coverage.
Heaven forbid the Giants lose in the playoffs. If that happens Shaw cable will be crying the blues because those so-called impressive ratings numbers will take a huge hit.
Worst case scenario for Shaw is a Kootenay-Seattle W.H.L final.
If that happens you'll be able to hear the Shaw executives swearing all the way from Calgary.
2 comments:
It is amazing, the disregard for Shaw viewers outside of Vancouver.
Wilms and Russell need to be freshened up a little. The pro-Giants broadcast must be nausieating for the rest of the BC division and it's fans.
The WHL Final was disgraceful last year. I'm surprised the two didn't pop down to ice level so they could hoist the trophy a few times in the post-game show.
I thought it was terrible. It wasn't like the ceremony was short. It went on and on and on for no less than 10 minutes. Even the Blazers pbp man was saying to me - does everyone on that team get an award?
It was bad programming bottom line. Like I said in the article having a Seattle-Kootenay final would be a nightmare for them. Shaw no longer provides service in the Kooteny's from what I understand and anything to do with sending camera crews down into the states is a disaster, financially and viewer wise.
Shaw would pick up big rating numbers if Vancouver went the distance because obviously the viewership is larger in that city.
Don't get me wrong, Shaw does a great service by providing games to showcase the Giants....I mean the league! But what I saw last night made me ill. It was that or the buffet before the game?
Post a Comment