Game Notes vs. Americans

Tonight’s Preview: The Rockets and Americans are meeting for the 4th and final time this season. The Rockets are 1-2-0-0 against the Americans this season, having been out-scored 10-6 in the first three games. These two teams last met November 19th with the Rockets earning a 3-1 home ice win. Tonight’s game is the final game of a seven game home-stand. The Rockets are 4-2-0-0 over that period, having out-scored the opposition 21-15. Following tonight’s game the Rockets are in Prince George for a pair of games this weekend. The Rockets have not allowed a power play goal against in 7 of their last 10 games. The Rockets have won five of eight games following the Christmas break.

Period-By-Period Scoring Breakdown:

1 2 3 Total
Rockets 0 2 4 6
Americans 4 3 3 10

Power Play In Seasonal Series:

Rockets: 1/11 (9.0%)
Americans: 1/17 (6.0%)

Last Game:. Justin Maylan’s shorthanded goal with 2:10 left to play in regulation time lifted the Prince George Cougars to a 4-3 win over the Rockets. Cody Almond, Brandon McMillan and Mitchell Callahan scored for the Rockets in the teams 6th home ice loss of the season. Riley Grantham chipped in with two assists. The Rockets played the game with just 15 skaters. Adam Brown was tagged with the loss in goal. The Rockets were 0/3 on the power play.

Let’s Make A Deal: The Rockets acquired three players near or on the Western Hockey League trading deadline. The Rockets acquired 20 year-old Ian Duval from the Moose Jaw Warriors for 17 year-old forward Jesse Paradis. The Rockets also picked up goaltender Mark Guggenberger from the Swift Current Broncos for a 5th round bantam pick. On another note, the Calgary Flames re-assigned 19 year-old Mikael Backlund to the Rockets on Sunday. Backlund was the Flames first round pick in the 2007 NHL draft, and was selected by the Rockets in the C-H-L European Draft that summer.

Rockets Add Muscle: The Rockets acquired 20 year-old Ryley Grantham and a 5th round bantam pick in the 2011 WHL draft Thursday in exchange for 18 year-old forward Dylan Hood. Grantham is a 6th round pick of the NHL’s Calgary Flames. Grantham was listed by the Warriors as a 15 year-old.

Barrie – CHL Best: Kelowna Rockets defenseman Tyson Barrie won’t play tonight. Barrie is attending the Top Prospects Game in Oshawa Ontario tonight. Barrie is rated 37th by NHL Central Scouting. Collin Bowman is rated 117th while Stepan Novotny is ranked 156th while Evan Bloodoff is 182nd among North American skaters

Who’s Hot: Brandon McMillan has 3+6=9 in his last 8 games. Tyson Barrie has 2+3=5 in his last four games. Colin Long has points in 7 of his last 8 games (2+8=10). Lucas Bloodoff has goals in four of his last six games. Bloodoff has 6 goals over that period. Cody Almond is riding a five game point streak with 5 goals and 4 assists over that period. Tysen Dowzak has not scored a goal in 100 straight games. His last goal was March 2, 2007 against the Prince George Cougars.

By The Numbers: Since re-locating to Kelowna from Tacoma for the start of the 1995-96 season, the Rockets have played 978 regular season games. The Rockets have won 495 games in Kelowna.

Brownie Points: Rookie goaltender Adam Brown is a sparkling 13 and 4 this season, having won 6 of his last 8 starts. Over those eight games Brown has allowed just 19 goals (2.14 per game), with losses to Prince George (4-3) and to Red Deer (1-0). Brown has allowed 4 goals in a game just three times while allowing two goals or less in 9 of his 14 starts this season. Brown has the fourth best goals against average in the league (2.22). What’s also impressive is Brown’s save percentage of .901.

Streaking @ Home: The Rockets have won five of their last seven home games and have wins in 7 of their last 10 home dates. The only stumbles over that period were a 4-3 loss to Prince George, a 5-2 loss to Moose Jaw and a 3-1 loss to Swift Current December 12th. The Rockets have scored four or more goals per game at Prospera Place – eleven times.

St. Denis Still Sidelined: Rockets forward Kyle St. Denis is missing his 28th straight game tonight with a broken wrist. The wrist was broken October 24th against the Chilliwack Bruins. The Rockets are 16-11-0-0 with St. Denis out of the lineup.


Milestones Within Reach:
Jamie Benn – one game shy of 80 games played (79 games currently played) – 111 career points
Cody Almond – Played in his 200th career game Saturday vs. Prince George. - 138 career points
Lucas Bloodoff – played in 175th career game January 2nd vs. Spokane – 85 career points
Brandon McMillan – Played in 165th game Wednesday against Seattle – 83 career points
Colin Long – Played in 200th WHL game last Friday vs. Portland. – 186 career points
Tyson Barrie – 84 career points
Tysen Dowzak – Playing in 193rd game tonight.

Broadcaster Tidbits: The Rockets have scored 23 goals in their last seven games. Of those 23 goals, just nine have been scored on the power play…The Rockets have scored 6 or more goals – eight times this season. The Rockets have managed to score 6 or more goals three times against the Cougars, with single game outbursts against Kamloops, Kootenay, Everett, Chilliwack and Seattle. Last season the Rockets scored 6 or more goals 12 times… The Rockets are 23-5-0-0 when they score 3 or more goals. The Rockets are 10-8-0-0 in games where they’ve allowed 3 or more goals.