Game Notes vs. Giants

Tonight’s Preview: The Rockets conclude a three game home stand tonight by hosting the Vancouver Giants. It’s the fourth meeting of the season between these two teams, with the Rockets sporting a record of 1-2-0-0 against the only team they’ve faced in the BC division this season. The Rockets have been out-scored 9-5 in the first three games, yet are coming off a 4-2 win over the Giants the last time these two teams met on October 8th in Vancouver. The last time the Giants were in Kelowna, September 26th, the visitors earned a 2-1 win. Despite meeting the Giants in 4 of their last 11 games, after tonight these two teams won’t see each other until January 2nd. Overall the Rockets have lost three straight games and have lost five of their first six home games. The only home win this season was a 5-0 victory over Calgary October 10th. The Rockets travel to Kamloops Friday before hosting Moose Jaw Saturday night.

Head-to-Head Play: The Rockets are 3-4-0-2 against the Giants at home over the last 9 games dating back to the 2005-2006 season. In those 9 home games against the Giants, three have been decided by a shoot-out. The Giants have won two of those three shootout games. The winning team has managed no more than four goals in those 9 games.

Who’s Hot: Colin Long is riding a five game point streak. Long has 1+6=7 over that period. Jamie Benn has a five game point streak (4+3=7) and has goals in three of his last five games. Kyle St. Denis has 4 points in his last 6 games. Brady Leavold has three fighting majors in his last six games. Cody Almond has points in five straight games (6 assists), but hasn’t scored a goal in 6 games. Almond has points in 8 of the teams first 11 games. Myles MacRae is pointless in 6 games. Lucas Bloodoff has just one assist in 11 games this season. Bloodoff’s last goal came March 3rd of last season in a 7-4 loss in Prince George.

Bernie Boost: Rockets forward Justin Bernhardt has four goals in his last 4 games, and has four-two goal games over his career. Bernhardt has 4+4=8 this season, after scoring just 8 times in 40 games with the Rockets after being acquired in a December trade with Regina.

McMillan Magnificent: Sophomore forward Brandon McMillan has scored both of the Rockets shorthanded goals this season. McMillan scored a beauty Saturday against Spokane, and scored another with great outside speed earlier this season against Vancouver. McMillan has 5+5=10 this season, after registering 2+10 =12 in 55 games as a rookie.

This and That: The Rockets have given up a power play goal in 10 of the 11 games they’ve played this season. The exception was a 5-0 shutout win over Calgary October 10th…The Rockets 4-3 loss to Spokane Saturday night marked the first time the team has lost a game this season when carrying the lead into the third period…The Rockets have lost four of five home games this season by a single goal…The Rockets have been out-scored 20-18 at home this season…Kristofer Westblom has 9 career shutouts. All nine have been recorded on home ice. Westblom is 5 wins shy of 50 for his career. Westblom’s next start will be his 94th of his career…Of the Rockets first eleven games; seven have been against teams in the U.S division. The Rockets have played just one team in the BC division, the Vancouver Giants two times.

Broadcasters Quick Hits: The Rockets all-time are 7 and 7 in the shootout…The Rockets have been out-shot in nine of the eleven games this season…The Rockets have scored 33 goals so far this season after eleven games. Last season the team scored 31 goals after 11 games, while allowing 36 against…The Rockets record after ten games this season is 4-6-1-0, which is good for 9 points. Last season after eleven games the Rockets record was 2-7-0-2, which was good for 6 points…Of the Rockets 33 goals this season, 16 have been scored in the first period…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 playing in career game number 144 tonight, 6 shy of 150 for his career. Colin Long played in his 100 career WHL game Saturday night vs. 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 last Friday against Everett. Colin Joe has the most games under his belt of anyone in the Rockets lineup. Joe plays in his 188th 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 Friday’s 4-3 loss to Everett.

Rockets Schedule - Next 5 Games: Rockets Results - Last 5 Games:

Oct 26 @ Kamloops Rockets 4 Giants 2 W
Oct 27 vs. Moose Jaw Rockets 5 Calgary 0
Oct 30 vs. Kamloops Rockets 1 Spokane 2
Nov 2 vs. Chilliwack Rockets 3 Everett 4
Nov 7 vs. Red Deer Rockets 3 Spokane 4
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: 7
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
Fewest Shots on Goal Taken: 24
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 Goals: Dylan Hood scores in a 4-3 win in Seattle October 6/07.
vs. BC: 1-2-0-0 vs. US: 2-4-1-0
vs. Central: 1-0-0-0 vs. East: 0-0-0-0

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 3-4-0-0 1-3-0-0 2-1-0-0
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)