Rockets Speciality Teams Anything But Ordinary

• Six different goal scorers contributed to the Rockets 6-2 win in Kamloops Friday night. Cody Almond and Colin Long’s return to the lineup from NHL training camps did not go unnoticed. It seemed like the return of the two veterans gave everyone an emotional lift. Rockets coach Ryan Huska elected to start the game with Almond and Long on the same line along with rookie Stepan Novotny. Long, Almond and Novotny would all score in the teams first win of the season.
• Novotny could have had two goals had it not been for a great left pad save in the first period. Long found Novotny going towards the net and fed him a beautiful pass, only to see his re-direct hit the outstretched pad of Blazers goaltender Justin Leclerc.
• When was the last time the Rockets scored 6 goals in one game in Kamloops? It was December 7, 2003 in a 6-2 win.
• The Rockets power play went 4 for 11 on the night, but it was the teams penalty killing unit that caught my attention. The Rockets allowed just one power play goal on 7 chances. It’s that aggressive penalty killing unit that will force teams to move pucks quickly, while creating doubt in the mind of the opposition that a turnover could create a good scoring chance the other way.
• Was the officiating bad? Blazer fans will call for the head of Nathan Wieler after this one. But let’s face it, he missed calls both ways and made calls that simply were not infractions. Blazers defenseman Kurt Torbohm's cross checking penalty on Brandon McMillan in the third period was a clean hit and Lucas Bloodoff's interference penalty on a power play late in the game was also questionable. And how Rockets rookie Mitchell Callahan didn't get an additional elbowing minor in a fight with Blazers d-man Jordon Rowley is beyond me. Rowley ended up getting the extra two minutes for roughing.
• It was a contrast of emotions between the coaching staff at the two benches. Both Blazers head coach Barry Smith and assistant Scott Ferguson were yelling at Wieler while at the other bench, Rockets head coach Ryan Huska and assistants Jeff Finley and Kim Dillabaugh calmly went about their business.
• It was without a doubt Kris Lazaruk’s best game in a Rockets uniform. The 20 year-old made some tremendous saves including a ‘beauty’ off of Blazers newcomer Dalibor Bortnak. The European forward had the netminder at his mercy, yet Lazaruk stayed with the play and kept his right pad flush to the ice for the best save of the game. Maybe Lazaruk’s strong play was the result of a change of his number. Lazaruk wore sweater #30 in back-to-back games in Tri City and Portland and then changed to #1 for Friday’s game. Backup Adam Brown is now wearing #31. That's Torrie Jung's old number. Speaking of Jung, he has been removed from the Rockets roster all together.
• Is Lucas Bloodoff a quick healer? Originally the Rockets believed Bloodoff would be out 4 weeks with a broken hand, but after further tests, Bloodoff was cleared to play. Despite the injury, Bloodoff chipped in with two assists.
• Tyson Barrie was less pro-active offensively Friday night, and it didn’t hurt his game, it helped it. Barrie didn’t get trapped up the ice trying to rush the puck, yet still managed two assists. No question he’s a gifted player offensively, but last night’s game was proof that he doesn’t have to make high risk plays to put up points.
• Mitchell Callahan again impressed me Friday night. It had nothing to do with his play with the puck, but an aggressive hit on Blazers defenseman Jordon Rowley. Was an elbow part of the hit? Likely. But Callahan's aggressive nature you can't but applaud. You have to remember he is still just 16. The rookie doesn't turn 17 until October 12th.
• The Rockets received some good news earlier in the day when the Dallas Stars returned Jamie Benn back to junior. Knowing that Benn wouldn’t make the Stars as an underage player, they allowed their prospect one NHL exhibition game before sending him back to Kelowna.

It's often said that a good pre-game warmup is crucial to game time success. It appears Rockets goaltender Kris Lazaruk believes in that theory.