- An unlikely hero scored the game winning goal in the Rockets 3-1 home ice victory against the Tri City Americans Wednesday night. Evan Bloodoff, with just one goal in his first 19 games, scored the winner with just over five minutes left in the third period in the Rockets 14th win of the season.
- While the Rockets power play failed to score a goal in three chances, it was nice to see two of the three goals scored even strength. Jamie Benn's 21st goal of the season was likely the ugliest that will come off his stick this season as he crashed the net to tie the game at one, and Cody Almond's empty netter was shorthanded. It was the Rockets 4th shorthanded goal of the season. Benn has three of them.
- Rockets goaltender Kris Lazaruk gave up only one goal in the game, but it was a bad one from a sharp angle. But despite that softy, he really barred down mentally and made some terrific saves, especially when the Americans had a 5 on 3 at about the 7 minute mark of the second period. The Americans, who failed to score to take a 2-0 lead, saw Jamie Benn get the opening goal for the home team with 1:12 left in the second period to tie the game at one.
- Colin Long may not be playing on the same line as Jamie Benn, but that didn't deter him from getting on the score-sheet. Long had two assists.
- The win snapped a losing streak against the Tri City Americans that dates back three seasons. The Rockets were 0 and 2 against the Americans this season, 0 and 4 last season and 0 and 4 the season prior. The bottom line was the Rockets beat the Americans for the first time in 11 trys.
- Chet Pickard was named the games second star for his great play in this one. The Americans goaltender made some huge saves, and gave his team a chance to beat a Rockets team that appeared to get better as the game wore on. Giving up two goals on 30 shots sounds like a pretty good effort from your starting goaltender.
- The two Americans that stood out for me outside of Pickard were Taylor Procyshen and Brett Plouffe. Procyshen wouldn't quit working and showed some good speed to the outside. No wonder he's the team captain. Plouffe showed a great shot from the point, something I just didn't notice in two games previous in Tri City. It seemed every time the Americans gained control in the offensive zone, the puck when back to Plouffe who wired one from the blue line.
- I like this Tri City American team. Quick would best describe them. This is an exciting team to watch. Even with a late 2-1 third period lead, few Rockets fans left the building until Cody Almond's empty net goal sealed the deal in this one.
- Are the Rockets a mirror image of the Americans? Their records sure are. The Rockets are 9 and 2 on home ice while the Americans are 9 and 1. The Rockets road record is 5 and 8 while the Americans is 5-6-0-2. The Rockets and Americans each have 18 points at home this season while the Am's have 12 points compared to Kelowna's 10 on the road.
- I noticed RG Properties' Dave Dakers watching the game with Rockets GM Bruce Hamilton Wednesday night. Do you think Hamilton pointed out the pitiful scoreboard in the arena to Dakers over the course of the game?
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Dull Start - Dandy Finish
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4 comments:
Very entertaining game last night, but what's with McMillan? He looks very disinterested in playing here I really think he needs a change of scenery & fast!! By the way what ever happened to the 4 video replay screens we were to have this year?
I agree with g.k. McMillan with all that speed he had chances to chase the puck into the Ams zone and was out skated a few times by the Ams player. Maybe he is sick or hurt ?? I would at the least expect him to go hard to the puck and get a pass off in front of the net.
Agre with both. For a guy who went to the Prospects game last year and WON fastest skater, something is drastically changed this year. I wonder what Anaheim thinks about his game.....didn't he suffer some sort of injury at their camp before coming back? Maybe that's what slowed him up because he is putting zero pressure on the forecheck and that was his game last year....
I can't pin point the problem either, but one goal in 21 games won't put a smile on his face nor the coaching staff's. He's just a player I don't notice out there, so I can't say if he was especially bad last night. He did suffer an injury at pro camp, but you would think that injury wouldn't pose a problem now?
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