Tonight’s Preview: The Rockets and Cougars are meeting for the 8th time this season. The Rockets are 4-2-0-1 in the first 7 games, having out-scored the opposition 30-19. The Rockets are 2-1-0-0 at home, having out-scored the Cougars 13-6. In Prince George the Rockets are 2-1-0-1, having out-scored the home team 17-13. While the Rockets have won the first four games of the seasonal series, the Cougars have won the last three meetings (2-0-0-1). Following tonight’s game the two teams close out the seasonal series February 14th. Tonight’s game is the final game of six straight against teams in the BC Division. Following tonight’s game the Rockets host Medicine Hat Friday before traveling to Seattle (Kent) Saturday.
Last Game: The Rockets are coming off a 5-2 win Saturday night in Kamloops. Ian Duval (2+1=3) and Brandon McMillan (1+2=3) led the Rockets attack while Mikael Backlund and Colin Long added singles. The Rockets had a 3-1 lead after 20 minutes and carried a 4-2 lead into the third period. The Rockets were 3 for 3 on the power play. Mark Guggenberger earned the win in goal making 26 saves. The victory snapped a four game losing streak (0-2-0-2).
Trade Deadline Transition: The Rockets are 2-3-0-2 in seven games since trade deadline day. The Rockets have scored 23 goals in those seven games (3.3), yet have given up 27 goals (3.9) over that period. The Rockets have registered 40+ shots in three of their last five games.
Almond=Outstanding: Cody Almond doesn’t want the month of January to end. Almond has goals in 7 of 10 games during the month, with points in 9 of those 10 games. Almond has 9 goals in his last 9 games. Almond’s January exploits comes on the heels of a disastrous December where the 19 year-old had just one goal in 10 games during the month. Should we be surprised at Almond’s successes in January? Almond had 7 goals and 18 points in 13 games last season during the month of January.
New Faces Contribute: Mikael Backlund has 2+4=6 in his first six games. Backlund scored his first goal in the WHL last Wednesday night in a 6-4 loss to Vancouver. Ian Duval has 4+4=8 in his first six games with the Rockets. Riley Grantham has 0+2=2 in his first 6 games, including two fighting majors. Goaltender Mark Guggenberger is 2-2-0-1 with the Rockets including a 3-2 win over Tri City and a 5-2 win in Kamloops.
Rockets Ramblings: After playing 34 games this season without going into a shootout, the Rockets have been forced into the ‘circus’ in 3 of their last 8 games. Overall the Rockets are 2 and 2 in the shootout. Jamie Benn has three goals in six games since returning from the world junior hockey championships. While the Rockets sit five points up on Kamloops for 4th place in the Western Conference, the Rockets have played 4 fewer games.
Who’s Hot: Ian Duval has goals in seven of his last ten games. In the big picture Duval has 15 goals in his last 21 games. Brandon McMillan has 5+8=13 in his last 13 games. Tyson Barrie has 2+5=7 in his last nine games. Colin Long has points in 10 of his last 13 games (5+10=15).
By The Numbers: Since re-locating to Kelowna from Tacoma for the start of the 1995-96 season, the Rockets have played 984 regular season games. The Rockets have won 497 times while based in Kelowna.
Streaking @ Home: The Rockets have won six of their last nine home games and have wins in 8 of their last 12 home dates. The only stumbles over that period were a 6-4 loss to Vancouver, a 4-3 setback 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 – twelve times.
St. Denis Still Sidelined: Rockets forward Kyle St. Denis is missing his 34th straight game tonight with a broken wrist. The wrist was broken October 24th against the Chilliwack Bruins. The Rockets are 18-13-0-2 with St. Denis out of the lineup.
Milestones Within Reach:
Jamie Benn – is 15 games shy of 100 for his career. (85 games currently played) – 115 career points
Cody Almond – Played in his 200th career game January 10th vs. Prince George. – 145 career points
Lucas Bloodoff – played in 175th career game January 2nd vs. Spokane – 85 career points
Brandon McMillan – Played in 165th game January 7th against Seattle – 87 career points
Colin Long – Played in 200th WHL game January 9th vs. Portland. – 191 career points
Tyson Barrie – 87 career points
Tysen Dowzak – Playing in 198th career game tonight.
Broadcaster Tidbits: The Rockets have scored 43 goals in their last thirteen games (3.3 per game). Of those 43 goals, sixteen (33%) 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 25-6-0-1 when they score 3 or more goals. The Rockets are 10-10-0-2 in games where they’ve allowed 3 or more goals…Cody Almond is one goal shy of setting a new career high for goals with 23…Tyson Barrie is 1 points shy of his career high 43 points set in his rookie season…Barrie has 9 goals this season, the same number as last year…Brandon McMillan is three goals shy of the 15 he scored last season…No player on the Rockets roster will play in all 72 games this season. The last time this happened was 1999-2000 when no players reached that mark.
5 comments:
From the Red Deer Rebels website..........
Something that has flown under the radar in this hockey game was the IDIOTIC play Kyle Beach made when time expired. After the buzzer, Beach took the puck in his own end, turned, and FIRED the puck into the stands, hitting a fan. I don't know how many people saw this...but I'm not talking about a soft toss which could be caught with bare hands...I mean an absolute ROCKET of a snapshot. I hope there is good video evidence of this, and I hope Beach gets the book thrown at him.
Apparently, and I can't say for sure, a man was hit very hard by the puck, and was extremely irate after the game... (as he should be).
Beach shooting the puck into the crowd comes AFTER the fact that his final shift on the night was an absolute disgrace....wiring slap shots from his own end with 40 seconds to go, and his team down by two goals. He absolutely quit in the final stages of this hockey game. If I was a teammate or a coach on this hockey team, I would have zero time for antics like that.
I've always given the benefit of the doubt to controversial and polarizing figures in sports. Beach brings a very marketable and highly desired hybrid of skills. He's mean, skilled, and has a bomb of a shot...but some things shouldn't be tolerated. This is one of them.
Wow, no wonder Hamilton had no interest in this player
I have met Kyle many times and have nothing bad to say about him. I will admit though that trouble seems to follow him no matter where he goes. I think that was a concern for any team kicking tires in a possible trade for him. For my money, Kyle would have been a great pick up 'short term', as I am thinking some of his antics would wear on coaches and teammates over a long period of time. No question he's an impact player though, and is a difference maker for any team.
Just noticed that the Rockets gameday program for P.G. tonight shows:
Rockets Players by Province: BC=6 US=7 ALB=7 SASK=1 MAN=1 EURO=2 Total=23
This should be:
Rockets Players by Province: BC=7 US=7 ALB=5 SASK=0 MAN=1 EURO=2 Total=22
seems like beach is the sean avery of junior. when he actually plays,he can change games,when he is an idiot...well...look what sean avery is doing,in an institution somewhere and has his own rules in the NHL rulebook..they need to get to the bottom of his ways before it becomes a habit and really make an example of him,in my opinion. suspend him,bench him,do what it takes to get it through his mind that you cant do things like that. i mean,theres a possibility he could have even killed somebody if it hit them right,or hit them in the temple or something. its just inexcusable in my opinion.
If I owned a sports team I would avoid guys like Beach like the plague. Regan, you say a guy like him can be a "difference maker". Yeah, I'd say so, but in a negative way. Seems you are pulling the homer card just cause the guy is from Kelowna. Don't tell me you secretly didn't feel happy that Beach got what he deserved when Bruton KO'd him last year.
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