Points in 5 Straight Games

• What a different a season makes. You just didn't see the panic in the faces of the Rockets despite being down 2-1 heading into the third period in Wednesday's 3-2 win over the Rebels. An early goal by Dylan Hood on a great individual effort followed by Cody Almond's game winner less than four minutes later sealed the win for the Rockets, who won for the 9th time this season.
• The win was the Rockets first of the season when trailing after 40 minutes. The Rockets were 0-4-0-0 when trailing after two periods.
• Kristofer Westblom really comes to play when the pressure is on. Westblom made some great saves with his team holding the lead, including a dandy with 10 seconds left to go to preserve the win. Westblom has started 4 straight games, and will likely play in his 100th career game Friday night in Prince George. Wouldn't it make sense to go with the goaltender with the hot hand?
• I thought Tyler Myers played the most physical game he's played this season. Returning from a shoulder injury, Myers was especially aggressive making a nice hit on Rebels captain Brandon Sutter who tried to go between the legs of Myers on a rush down the ice. Myers promptly threw him to the ice on a textbook defensive effort.
• The Rockets have now won 4 straight, and have points in 5 straight games. The recent success has moved the Rockets into sole possession of 3rd place in the BC division, two points up on the Prince George Cougars.
• He wasn't Clark Kent, but he was super! Rebels goaltender Morgan Clark was a joy to watch Wednesday night. The 11th round bantam pick was at his best early in the hockey game, when the Rockets found their game less than 10 minutes into the first period. Clark, the son of Vancouver Canucks goaltending consultant Ian Clark, gave the Rockets fits all night long including Jamie Benn who had 4 quality chances in the first period alone. Was that Morgan Clark or Cam Ward? I had to check my program a couple of times
• The Rebels have a young team, but the future looks bright. I especially liked Cass Mappin. Mappin is a 17 year-old forward who played hard all night long. Mappin played so hard, he mistakenly got into a pushing match with Rockets tough guy James McEwan. No real punches where thrown following a goal mouth scramble as the linesman separated the two, but Mappin showed a competitive spirit that must have pleased head coach Brian Sutter. I didn't notice sixteen year-old Landon Ferraro that much in this one, but he has great speed and a soft touch around the net. The Rebels have some good young talent that will blossom over the years.
• Did you notice Rockets defenseman Luke Schenn saying hi to Rebels forward Brandon Sutter in the pre-game warm-up? Sutter shot a puck in Schenn's direction, hitting the Rockets d-man in the skates. Schenn promptly hit Sutter in the back of the pants as the two were skating near the centre ice red line. The two are familiar with one another from their efforts with Team Canada against the Russians, and will again be teammates for the WHL All-Stars at the ADT Challenge later this month in Medicine Hat and Cranbrook.
• On the prompting of fellow blogger Jon Keen, David and I spoke with Rebels head coach Brian Sutter. Wow, what a treat. Sutter is so comfortable with the media, it's all most like he doesn't know we are conducting an interview. He is outspoken, informative, and simply a pleasure to talk too. He even said "horse shit" during our interview, giving you a good idea he was comfortable in our three-way conversation.
• In a non hockey related note, Brad Wall is the new Premier of Saskatchewan. Big deal? Darn rights! I know this guy, and know him well. We worked together at CKSW radio in Swift Current. Yes Wall was a radio guy. Brad Wall always loved radio, but loved politics even more. Now he's the Premier of Saskatchewan! My color analyst with the Broncos, Everett Hindley has been Wall's right hand man over the years as the Swift Current M.L.A has made the move up the Saskatchewan Party ranks. Hindley may be leaving Swift Current for Regina now that Wall is the Premier. Congrats to Brad Wall on the highlight of his political career.