Rockets A Perfect 10!

• The Rockets were do to break out offensively, and elected to explode Friday night at home against the Medicine Hat Tigers in a 10-1 romp. The Rockets scored five times in the second period in the lopsided victory. Cody Almond led the way with three goals while Jamie Benn and Mitchell Callahan added a pair each in the team’s 29th win of the season. It was also the Rockets third straight win.
• The Rockets depth was the key in the victory with all four lines contributing in some significant way. If a line wasn’t generating offense, they were providing a solid fore-check or issuing a big hit. It was a complete team effort that resulted in the lopsided score.
• While everyone witnessed the Rockets flex their offensive muscles, don’t discredit early saves from goaltender Mark Guggenberger when the game was scoreless. The Tigers were equally as good as the Rockets in the first 15 minutes before Mitchell Callahan collecting a rebound shot off the end boards on a blue line drive from Tysen Dowzak and scored to make it 1-0. The Tigers didn’t let that first goal by the home team shake them though, scoring the tying goal just over a minute later. It was Stepan Novotny’s goal 47 seconds after the Tigers tied it that proved to the visitors that the home team was going to be a force to be reckoned with.
• A total of thirteen players were involved in the scoring. Included on that list was goaltender Mark Guggenberger, who picked up an assist. Almond (3+0=3), Benn (2+1=3), Callahan (2+1=3), Backlund (0+3=3) and Novotny (1+2=3) all had three point efforts. Lucas Bloodoff, Colin Long and Tysen Dowzak each had two assist nights.
• Tyler Myers was a team high +5.
• The ten goal outburst was the first time the Rockets have hit double-digits since scoring 11 times in an 11-1 win over the Vancouver Giants January 5, 2002. Jesse Ferguson scored three times in that win, while Nick Marach had two goals and two assists. The Rockets also scored 10 goals in a 10-3 win over Moose Jaw November 27, 1999.
• It was the Tigers worst road loss since giving up 11 goals in an 11-5 setback in Prince George October 5, 2001.
• Ian Duval scored the Rockets 7th goal but was hurt after being hit while carrying the puck inside the Tigers zone. For precautionary measures, the overage forward won’t suit up Saturday night for a road game in Kent Washington against the Seattle Thunderbirds.
• Give rookie Curt Gogol props for electing to tangle with Tigers designated tough guy Matt McCue in a third period scrap. Gogol received the instigator penalty after McCue ran him heavily into the corner boards. McCue was the victor, yet Gogol stood in there against a player not only 5 inches taller but 40 pounds heavier.
• The most interesting scrap of the night had Lucas Bloodoff tangling with Tigers John Stampohar in the second period. The scrap didn’t feature this usually drama of both players taking off their helmets and drawing the attention of everyone in the building before finally throwing punches at one another. This fight erupted quickly in the neutral zone after Stompohar slashed Bloodoff.
• Congratulations to Rockets Athletic Therapist Jeff Thorborn, who’s wife gave birth to a baby girl. It’s the couples first. To mark the occasion, Thorburn was given the weekend off, which means the hardest working member of the Rockets organization behind the scenes gets a chance to spend some time with his bundle of joy.
• Mikael Backlund’s biggest fan was in attendance Friday night at Prospera Place. Backlund’s mother took in the game. She was wearing with pride, a Rockets jersey that said Backlund on the back.
• After the game the Rockets boarded the bus and headed to Kent. On the way we encountered a 4x4 truck in the ditch on the connector and a guy stranded outside of Merritt who ran out of gas.