Things That Make Me Go Hmm...

• How important is Jamie Benn to the Rockets success? When Benn scores the Rockets are 14-5-0-3. Benn's last game was January 26th against the Medicine Hat Tigers. The Rockets are 4-6-0-1 in 11 games without him. Benn could return as early as Wednesday after being out with a sprained ankle. That said, my gut feeling is the team will give him a few more days before inserting him into the lineup for road games in Seattle and Portland this weekend.
• Colin Long has 92 points. Last year's leading point getter in the WHL - Zach Hamill - had 93 points. It will take far more than 93 points for Long to win the scoring title over Mark Santorelli or Colton Yellow Horn.
• Long's 66 assists this season is the highest total since Rory McDade had 70 helpers in the 2000-2001 season. Allan Egeland had an impressive 76 assists with the Tacoma Rockets in 1993-94 but it's Marty Flichel that holds the franchise record with 79 assists for the Rockets in 1995-96.
• The Rockets have ten players with 10 or more goals this season. Last season the Rockets had just 6 players with ten or more goals.
• While the Rockets 74 power play goals this season are impressive, the team had a franchise high 117 power play goals during the 202-2003 season. Yes, that power play unit had the best success rate in the WHL that season with 508 power play chances.
• Here's some audio from Sunday's game in Vancouver. The goal was scored by Cody Almond to give the Rockets a 2-1 lead, but the goal was the result of point blast from defenseman Tyler Myers. http://www.am1150.ca/player/player?mediapath=&type=mp3&fi=files%2Fam1150%2Fsrimedia%2FR09_0362.MP3&nid=673368&
• The Rockets have just 24 goals from the defensive core this season. Last season the Rockets had 22 goals from the backend.
• Name the two Rockets who have failed to score a goal this season? Tysen Dowzak and Kyle Verdino.
• Goaltender Kristofer Westblom has won his last three starts, and has won 10 of his last 13 decisions.Those three losses came against Kamloops (twice) and Lethbridge. Westblom's save percentage in his last four games is .932.
• The Rockets got an eye-opener Friday in a 5-2 loss to Seattle. The Rockets most likely opponent in the opening round of the playoffs are as skilled and as quick as they come. Here is an audio sequence of the T-Birds scoring against the Rockets off the rush. http://www.am1150.ca/player/player?mediapath=&type=mp3&fi=files%2Fam1150%2Fsrimedia%2FR09_0356.MP3&nid=672646&
• Remember Jesse Ferguson? The former Rockets d-man is getting married this summer. His best man is former Rockets forward Nick Marach. Ferguson has some interesting thoughts when I spoke to him on Marc Habscheid, getting into coaching, and his playing days in Portland. http://www.am1150.ca/player/player?mediapath=&type=mp3&fi=files%2Fam1150%2Fsrimedia%2FR09_0339.MP3&nid=673809&