Early Season Concern Shows Up in Early February

• It was an area of concern for the Rockets heading into the 2007-2008 season, yet no one was overly shaken over the Rockets play in their own zone after 53 games, until a pair of losses this weekend. Missed assignments by the defenseman and the forwards has made the goaltenders look silly at times. Look for the Rockets to iron out those problems this week in practice.
• Over the last two games the Rockets defensive core is a combined minus 18. Luke Schenn leads the way at -5, followed by Tyson Barrie, Colin Joe and Tysen Dowzak at -3.
• You have to wonder if the harsh schedule is a factor in the teams recent laps in judgment defensively? The month of January saw the team play 13 games in 29 nights. The Rockets had success over that period, but the defensive core was stretched for the early portion of January with the loss of Schenn (World Juniors) and Barrie (Under 17's). Despite the loss of those two players, the teams commitment to defense remained intact.
• The Rockets have given up 15 goals in their last two games. The last time the Rockets have up 15 goals in consecutive games was October 11, 1997 in a 9-9 tie with the Tri City Americans. The Rockets would again lose 6 night's later with a 6-2 loss in Swift Current.
• The Rockets are 1-3-0-1 in their last 5 games.
• Up until this weekend the last time the Rockets had lost back-to-back games was December 28 (4-3 to Kamloops) and December 29 (5-2 to Vancouver).
• The Rockets have lost back-to-back games only three times this season. The Rockets longest losing streak of the season is just three games, set October 13th with a 2-1 loss to Spokane, followed by a 4-3 loss to Everett October 19th and then a 4-3 setback to the Chiefs October 20th.
• They say practice makes perfect. The Rockets have 4 days on the ice before facing the Blazers in Kamloops on Friday.