Road Weary Yet Feeling Wonderful

• Exhausted, tired, road weary. Those three words best describe the Kelowna Rockets following a sensational weekend, playing three games in three nights. The Rockets picked up 5 out of a possible 6 points with wins in Vancouver and Portland and a overtime loss in Everett. On the weekend the Rockets out-scored the opposition 11-7, and now have points in 11 straight games.
• Sunday's 5-3 win in Vancouver saw the Rockets build up a 3-0 lead, only to see it evaporate as the Giants scored three unanswered goals to tie the score at 3. Yet the Rockets again showed little panic, and with Giants captain Spencer Machacek in the penalty box, struck with a power play goal with just over two minutes left in regulation time.
• Lucas Bloodoff continues to impressive after getting off to a slow start. Bloodoff's power play goal on a tremendous feed from Cody Almond from the near boards proved to be the game winner. The 18 year-old is one goal shy of the ten he scored in 69 games as a WHL rookie a season ago. Bloodoff now has goals in four of his last 6 games, and goals in 7 of his last 11 games. Remember Lucus Bloodoff started the season with no goals in his first 13 games.
• How good was Colin Long, Jamie Benn and Brady Leavold this weekend? The Rockets number one line combined for 15 points in three games. Long had 7 points, Benn had 5 and Leavold had 3. Leavold has a 5 game point streak (2+4=6) and is a +9 over that stretch. Benn, Long and Leavold were all +3 in Sundays road win.
• James McEwan showed exactly why he is the leader of this team. McEwan paid the price when he was hit heavily at the Giants blue line late in the 3rd period while chipping the puck inside the offensive zone for line-mate Milan Kytnar. While McEwan was sent flying, Kytnar retrieved the puck, skated in on goal and beat Tyson Sexsmith to make it a 5-3 game. McEwan's team first concept and throwing caution to the wind approach enabled the Rockets to seal the game, yet had him headed to the dressing room with what could be a mild concussion.
• The game started with a bang, as Giants tough guy Garet Hunt danced with Rockets captain James McEwan just 35 seconds in. McEwan again recorded the win, yet Hunt again deserves a pat on the back for instigating and taking his fair share of punches. What I don't understand is why Hunt attempts to fight McEwan. Clearly he doesn't win fights against McEwan, so the attempt of getting momentum for his team is never gained. Give him marks for trying though. Hunt now has 9 fighting majors compared to McEwan's 6.
• The Rockets now trail the Giants by 7 points for first place in the BC division, and have two games in hand.
• Rockets goaltender Kristofer Westblom was again sharp in this one. Westblom made several quality glove hand saves, including two off of Giants forward Michal Repik when the game was tied at 3. Westblom continues to show the coaching staff that the more he plays, the more consistent he becomes.
• Tyler Myers again sat out Sunday's game with a shoulder injury. Despite the loss of Myers, the defensive core again played strong thanks to the play of Schenn, Dowzak, Barrie and Joe. Riley McIntosh saw spot duty.
• Schenn, the games first star, appeared to pick up his physical game in the third period. Schenn's hit on Mario Bliznak in the right corner inside the Rockets zone was one of beauty. The hit that dazed McEwan late in the third period was all thunderous, but the Rockets are suggesting it may have been a dirty hit. Until I see it on replay, I won't pass judgement on it.
• What team is hotter than the Kelowna Rockets right now? The Lethbridge Hurricanes are an impressive 13-0-0-1 in their last 14 games. The Rockets are 8-0-1-2 in their last 11.
• Check back later today when I will share some pictures with you that I took on the road trip this weekend.
• What a great Sunday. The Rockets win, and so do the Riders!