Rockets Game Notes vs. Giants

Tonight’s Preview: The Rockets have won six of their last eight games heading into tonight’s contest against the Vancouver Giants. It’s the second of eight meetings between these two teams this season. The Rockets are in Vancouver Friday night before traveling to Kamloops on Saturday. These two teams last met on October 10th with the Giants earning a 7-1 win. Vancouver was 4 for 9 on the power play in the game and struck for four goals in the third period. The Rockets received their lone goal from Jesse Paradis. Starting goaltender Kris Lazaruk allowed five goals on 23 shots before giving way to Adam Brown who allowed two goals on four shots. The Rockets are coming off a 4-1 loss against the Tri City Americans November 4th. Cody Almond scored the lone goal for the Rockets, who out-shot the Am’s 25-23. Kris Lazaruk suffered the loss in goal, giving way for Adam Brown after injuring himself on the Americans second goal. The Rockets enter tonight’s game having won three straight at home, thanks to victories over Edmonton (5-2), Seattle (7-3) and Lethbridge (4-3). Overall the Rockets have out-scored the opposition 16-8 in those three wins. The last home ice loss for the Rockets – and only loss of the season at Prospera Place – came October 25th in a 3-2 setback to Brandon.

What Are They Wearing? The Rockets are wearing the replica red and white jersey’s tonight celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Kelowna Packers. The 1958 Kelowna Packers are the first Canadian team ever to skate on Russian ice and paved the way for the 1972 Summit Series. The jerseys worn tonight will be auctioned off with all the proceeds going to the newly formed Central Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame. The Packers will be inducted into the ‘Hall’ during a ceremony tomorrow.

Power with the Power Play: The Rockets have scored 31 goals with the power play this season. Overall the team has scored 79 times, meaning 39% of their goals have been scored with the extra man.

‘Benn’-fitting From the Power Play: Rockets forward Jamie Benn has 32 points this season. Of those 32 points, 16 of those points (50%) have been earned with the extra man. When Benn scores the Rockets are 8-4-0-0.

No Shootout/No OT: The Rockets have failed to play a game this season that has gone either to overtime or a shootout. The last overtime game the Rockets were involved in that ended in a decision was December 15/07 in a 3-2 overtime win in Saskatoon. Jamie Benn scored the game winner. The last time the Rockets were involved in a shootout was March 9/08 in a 4-3 shootout win in Chilliwack. Tyson Barrie technically scored the game winning goal in that contest. The Rockets were involved in 11 shootout games last season. Kelowna is joined by Portland and Saskatoon as the only three teams not involved in a shootout this season.

Schedule Maker: The Rockets play 14 more games before Christmas. Seven of those games are on home ice. Those seven road games include dates in Prince George (twice), Vancouver, Kamloops, Calgary, Red Deer and Edmonton.

Adam’s Apple: Rockets rookie goaltender Adam Brown is 7-0-0-0 this season. Brown has wins over Seattle (twice), Chilliwack (twice), Edmonton, Lethbridge and Prince George. Brown is the first Rockets rookie goaltender in franchise history to win the first seven games he’s started. Brown was granted a free-agent tryout with the Rockets after playing midget hockey last season in Dallas Texas. Brown was originally listed by the Lethbridge Hurricanes, but was dropped from their roster.

Two Head to A-D-T: Jamie Benn and Tyler Myers have been named to team WHL, which will face the Russians in the A-D-T Canada/Russia Challenge next month. Games will be played in Swift Current and Prince Albert Saskatchewan.

Who’s Hot – Who’s Not: Jamie Benn has goals in 6 of his last seven games. That’s 10 goals over that period. Colin Long has points in 9 of his last 11. Long has 9 goals and 11 assists = 20 pts over that period. Cody Almond has points in eleven of his last fourteen games. Almond has 6+6=12 over that period.

Home Cook’n: The Rockets are 8-1-0-0 at home this season, having out-scored the opposition 44-19. The only loss at home this season was a 3-2 setback to the Brandon Wheat Kings October 25th.
That’s a Fact Jack: Jamie Benn has 15 goals in his last 11 games. Benn has 15+10=25 over that period. Benn had his 10 game point streak snapped against the Tri City Americans...The Rockets have scored a power play goal in 18 of the team’s 20 games this season. The only games where the Rockets were held off the score-sheet with the extra man was in Tri City (4-1 L) and in Medicine Hat (4-1 L)…Kris Lazaruk has started 14 of the Rockets 20 games this season…Adam Brown has started in five of the last eight…The Rockets have played in just five-one goal game this season. Those games were a 4-3 win over Lethbridge, a 3-2 win against Seattle, a 2-1 loss in Portland, a 5-4 win against Kamloops and a 3-2 loss to Brandon.