Tonight’s Preview: The Rockets and Blazers are meeting for the second time this season. These two teams met Friday night in Kamloops with the Blazers earning a 5-3 win. Following tonight’s game these two BC division rivals won’t meet one another until November 14th in Kamloops. Overall the Rockets and Blazers meet eight times over the course of the season. Last season the Rockets were 3-1-1-0 in five home games against Kamloops, with the only setback being a 3-2 loss December 2/06. Of the five games played at Prospera Place last season, four of the five were decided by a single goal, with the Rockets winning in overtime and losing once in the extra session. The Rockets out-scored the Blazers 15-12 on home ice. The Rockets have just one win in their last 4 homes games heading into action tonight and have earned just 5 out of a possible 16 points at Prospera Place this season. The only regulation win for the Rockets at home was a 5-0 win against Calgary October 10th. Tonight the Rockets are playing game two of three straight on home ice. The Rockets host Chilliwack Friday night before facing the Bruins in Chilliwack on Saturday. Overall the Rockets are 1-4-0-1 in their last 6 games.
Breaking it Down Further: The Rockets are 13-5-1-0 with one tie in their last 20 home games against the Blazers dating back to the start of the 2003-2004 season. The Rockets most recent success against Kamloops at home came in 2004-2005 when the Rockets were 4-0-0-0 and a tie in five home dates. The Rockets last shutout the Blazers at home on December 10/05 in a 4-0 win. The last time the Blazers shutout the Rockets at Prospera Place was October 4/03 in a 5-0 victory.
BC Division Scheduling: The Rockets open a portion of the schedule playing three straight games against a BC division team, and 9 of their next 14 games against a divisional rival. Three of those games are against Prince George and Kamloops with two games against Chilliwack. The other game against a BC division opponent is the Vancouver Giants.
Who’s Hot: Colin Long had a seven game point streak snapped Saturday against Moose Jaw. Long had 3+8=11 over that period. Jamie Benn has points in six of his last eight games (4+4=8). Kyle St. Denis has gone 8 games without a goal, and 4 games without a point. Cody Almond has points in six of his last 8 games and snapped out of an 8 game goal scoring drought Saturday against Moose Jaw. Almond has points in 9 of the teams first 14 games this season. Myles MacRae is pointless in 9 games. Last season MacRae had just four goals before Christmas, before responding 10 times after the break. Lucas Bloodoff snapped a 13 game goal scoring drought Saturday night. Evan Bloodoff already has 4 goals this season, after scoring 4 times in 59 games a year ago.
This and That: The Rockets have given up a power play goal in 12 of the 14 games they’ve played this season. The exception was a 2-1 shootout win over Vancouver Wednesday and a 5-0 shutout win over Calgary October 10th…The Rockets have been involved in a one goal game in 6 of their first 8 home games. The Rockets are 0-4-1-1 in those one goal contests…The Rockets have given up 23 goals on home ice this season while allowing 25 against…The Rockets have out-shot the opponent in just 4 of the teams first 14 games this season. The Rockets have managed the feat against Kamloops, Vancouver, Seattle and Everett.
Broadcasters Quick Hits: Defenseman Luke Schenn is one of 31 players named to the WHL All-Stars that will participate in the ADT Canada-Russia Challenge. Games will be played in Cranbrook and Medicine Hat November 28th and 29th…The Rockets have been involved in eight – one goal games this season, including four in a row at home. The Rockets are 2-4-1-1 on those eight games…The Rockets all-time are 8 and 8 in the shootout…The Rockets loss last Friday in Kamloops was the first time this season the team has out-shot the opponent, but have failed to win the game…The Rockets record after fourteen games this season is 5-7-1-1, which is good for 12 points. Last season after fourteen games the Rockets record was 4-8-0-2, which was good for 10 points…The Rockets home record this season is 2-4-1-1 which is good for 6 points. Last season the Rockets home record was 3-3-0-2 after 8 games, which was good for 8 points…The Rockets longest unbeaten streak last season was just four games. The Rockets had 3 wins and a shoot-out loss over that period…The Rockets are just 1 and 6 in their last seven overtime appearances. The Rockets are 7 and 7 in overtime games dating back to the start of the 2005-2006 season.
Tonight’s Notables: Luke Schenn is sitting out game two of a two game suspension for a hit on Blazers forward Shayne Wiebe Friday night in Kamloops. Schenn’s next game will be his 146th of his career. Colin Long played in his 100 career WHL game October 13th in Spokane. Rockets overage forward Brady Leavold played in his 135th WHL game Oct 6/2007 in Seattle. One hundred thirty-three (133) of those games have been played as a member of the Swift Current Broncos. Tysen Dowzak played in his 100th WHL game September 26th against Vancouver. Cody Almond played in his 100th career game October 19th against Everett. Colin Joe has the most games under his belt of anyone in the Rockets lineup. Joe plays in his 191st career game tonight. James McEwan played in his 175th game October 6/07 in Seattle. Justin Bernhardt played in career game 175 also against the T-Birds October 6th. Bernhardt recorded his 100th point of his WHL career with a second period goal in a 4-3 loss to Everett October 19th.
Rockets Schedule - Next 5 Games: Rockets Results - Last 5 Games:
Nov 2 vs. Chilliwack Rockets 3 Everett 4 L
Nov 3 @ Chilliwack Rockets 3 Spokane 4 L
Nov 7 vs. Red Deer Rockets 2 Giants 1 SHW
Nov 9 @ PG Rockets 3 Kamloops 5
Nov 10 @ PG Rockets 3 Moose Jaw 4 SHL
Rockets Players by Province: BC=13 US=4 ALB=3 SASK=3 MAN=1 EURO=1 Total=25
Rockets Season Highs and Lows:
Most Goals Scored: 6
Most Goals Allowed: 6
Most Power Play Chances: 9 vs. Warriors Oct 27/07. Rockets were 0/9 losing 4-3 in shootout.
Most Power Play Goals Scored: 2
Most Power Play Goals Allowed: 4 @ Everett Sept 29/07
Most Shots Taken: 37
Fewest Shots Taken: 9 @ Vancouver Sept 29/07 (5-0L)
Most Shot Allowed: 48 @ Vancouver Sept 30/07
Last Shutout: - Kristofer Westblom 28 saves vs. Calgary (5-0 W)
Last Time Shutout: - @ Vancouver Sept 29/07 – Sexsmith 9 saves (5-0 L)
Penalty Shots: Torrie Jung stopped Michal Repik in the 3rd period of a 5-0 loss Sept 29/07.
Shootout Game Winning Goals: Dylan Hood scores in a 4-3 win in Seattle October 6/07. Colin Long scored the game winner in a 2-1 win over Vancouver October 24th.
vs. BC: 2-3-0-0 vs. US: 2-4-1-0
vs. Central: 1-0-0-0 vs. East: 0-0-0-1
Roster Stats:
Player total: 25
Year by Year Breakdown:
20’s – 3 Westblom, McEwan, Leavold
19’s – 4 Dowzak, Bernhardt, MacRae, Joe
18’s – 8 Long, Kytnar, Brusciano, L. Bloodoff, Jung, Schenn, Almond, Benn
17’s – 6 St. Denis, E. Bloodoff, McIntosh, Myers, McMillan, Hood
16’s – 4 Bowman, Barrie, Paradis, Verdino
Average Age: 17.8
Rookies – 7
Record by Month:
Month Games Record Home Road
September: 4 1-2-1-0 0-1-1-0 1-1-0-0
October: 11 4-5-0-1 2-3-0-1 2-2-0-0
November: 13 0-0-0-0 0-0-0-0 0-0-0-0
December: 12 0-0-0-0 0-0-0-0 0-0-0-0
January: 13 0-0-0-0 0-0-0-0 0-0-0-0
February: 11 0-0-0-0 0-0-0-0 0-0-0-0
NHL Draft Picks-Training Camp Attendees: Jamie Benn (Dallas 07), Torrie Jung (Tampa Bay 07), Cody Almond (Minnesota 07), Milan Kytnar (Oilers 07), Tysen Dowzak (Tryout Philadelphia).
Game Notes Compiled by Regan Bartel (AM 1150)
2 comments:
Hey Regan if the Rocket's didn't feel that the penalty or the suspension on Schenn was warranted why did they not appeal the ruling? Is there not some sort of appeal process in the Dub? Do you feel that they should have appealed?
Trust me the Rockets have appealed/had their say on the matter. GM Bruce Hamilton was at Friday's game and was likely on the phone Monday morning having a heated discussion with WHL league disciplinarian Richard Doerksen. Let's just say if one of the Rockets suffer a concussion on a similiar hit this season, Hamilton will use that Schenn example when pleading his case for what in my mind - and the Rockets - was a clean hit.
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