Friday, February 20, 2009

Game Notes vs. Giants

Tonight’s Preview: The Rockets and Giants are meeting for the 7th time this season. The Rockets are 1-5-0-0 against the Giants this season, having been out-scored 26-14. Following tonight’s game these two teams conclude the seasonal series March 7th in Kelowna. The Giants have out-shot the Rockets in five of the six games. The exception was November 12th in a Giants 3-1 win. The Rockets out-shot the visitors 37-24. In the seasonal series the Giants have also scored two or more power play goals in four of the six games. The Rockets are 7 for 33=21.2% with the extra man while the Giants are 11 for 40=27.5% in the 6 games. Following tonight’s game the Rockets are in Everett tomorrow night before closing out the weekend with a game in Chilliwack Sunday afternoon (4PM). The Rockets then board the bus Monday for a trip to Medicine Hat where they play the Tigers on Wednesday. The Rockets enter a portion of their schedule playing six games nine nights. The Rockets have points in 12 of their last 13 games (9-1-1-2).

Seasonal Series Breakdown:
Period: 1 2 3 OT Total
Rockets 5 2 6 1 14
Giants 6 5 15 0 26

* Tyson Sexsmith has started in all six games against the Rockets this season. Adam Brown has played in three of the six games while Mark Guggenberger has played twice against the Giants this season.

Last Game: Alexander Wiklund scored the game winner leading the Chilliwack Bruins to a 4-3 shootout win over the Kelowna Rockets Wednesday night. The Bruins forced overtime after coming back from a 3-0 first period deficit. The Rockets scored those three goals in a 1:06 span, before the Bruins came back to earn the two points. Cody Almond, Colin Long and Stepan Novotny scored for the Rockets, who out-shot the Bruins 40-23. The Rockets were 0/4 on the power play while the Bruins were 1 for 2. The loss snapped the Rockets six game home ice winning streak.

Road Rash: Nineteen of Jamie Benn’s 39 goals (49%) have been scored on the road. Twenty-seven of Benn’s 67 points (40%) have been registered on opposition ice. Thirty-one (31) of Colin Long’s 74 points (42%) have been scored on the road. Twenty of Tyson Barrie’s 48 points (42%) have been on opposition ice. Twenty of Cody Almond’s 54 points this season (37%) have been registered on the road.

Sophomore Jinx – Not! Jamie Benn has been held off the score-sheet just 10 times this season. Two of those games have been against Vancouver with three coming against Prince George. Benn was held off the scoreboard 14 times in his rookie season.

Mr. Consistency: Colin Long has been held off the scoreboard 11 times this season. Three of those games have been against the Giants. Long has had one-nine game point streak and two-eight game point streaks this season. Last season Long failed to hit the score sheet 15 times.

Best of the West Poll Announced: The Tri City Herald’s Best of the West Poll was released last weekend and three Rockets were recognized. Jamie Benn was rated as having the best shot, and the most accurate. Riley Grantham was rated as the toughest player in the conference. Tyler Myers was rated as the best stay-at-home defenseman.

The Fastest to 40! Rockets forward Jamie Benn is one goal shy of 40 for the season. Benn has scored 39 times in just 44 games. Justin Keller was the last Rockets player to reach 40 goals, during the 2005-2006 season. Keller would score his 40th goal in his 58th game. Keller would go on to score 51 times that season. Chuck Kobasew scored his 40th goal for the Rockets in his 54th game during the 2001-2002 season. Jesse Schultz took 53 games to score his 40th in 2002-2003. Brett McLean scored his 40th goal of the season in his 51st game in 1997-98. Jason Deleurme took 53 games to score his 40th goal in 1997-98.

Very Interesting! Jamie Benn has three-three goal games this season. Benn also registered a hat trick against Kamloops and Lethbridge…Ian Duval leads all Rockets in games played. Duval is playing in career game #319 tonight…Mark Guggenberger has won four of his last six starts, and has earned points in 10 of his last 11 appearances… The Rockets are 20-2-0-1 when Colin Long scores…The Rockets 24 home ice wins this season is three better than the teams 21 home ice victories one season ago…Goaltender Mark Guggenberger has started 11 of the last 14 games.…Tyson Barrie has set a new career high in point with 48, bettering his 43 point effort in his rookie season…The Rockets won their 30th game of the season February 3rd in Kamloops. It marked the 14th time in franchise history that the Rockets have enjoyed a 30+ win season. The Rockets last failed to win 30 games during the 2006-2007 campaign, when the team won just 22 times…The Rockets have just 13 games left in the regular season. Nine of those 13 are on the road. The Rockets have out-shot the opposition in 14 of the 17 games since the trade deadline. Only Tri City and Vancouver (twice) have out-shot the Rockets since the trade deadline…The Rockets are 9-4-1-3 in seventeen games since the trade deadline…Mitchell Callahan has 12 fighting majors this season as a 17 year-old. Teammate Curt Gogol – also 17 – has 8…Cody Almond is two points shy of his point total from last season.

13 comments:

Jess Rubenstein said...

Wow Regan I can not believe that you failed to mention that Tysen Dowzak has a 3 game scoring streak going.

With his next point Dowzak will equal his career high in points.

Rocket fans all kidding aside, you have a great guy here in Regan Bartel covering your Rockets.

apsco17 said...

I agree that Regan does a great job on both the radio and this blog.

Hey Regan, what about Kyle St Denis? Is he expected to play against the Giants tonight? What about Benn?

Reminder to Rockets fans that the game tonight is televised on Sahw cable 11.

Regan Bartel said...

apsco17, you are suppose to listen to us not watch the TV! LOL.

Jess Rubenstein, I don't want to mention Dowzak's accomplishments because I may jinx him. I spoke with St. Denis Wednesday night, and look what happened. He got hurt.

fan said...

Regan you also mentioned you had a bad feeling & look what happened. please keep it to yourself till after the game. lol

apsco17 said...

Sorry Regan. I forgot to mention that I watch the video feed on Shaw 11 with the audio from 1150AM. ;)

apsco17 said...

Also, just read in today's Crapital News that St. Denis is out indefinately with a concussion.

In the same article, Hamilton says he expects Almond & Backlund to step up their play.

Regan Bartel said...

I have a good feeling about tonight....should I have typed that? lol.

Jared Comeau said...

LOL Dangit Regan! You jinxed us....all kidding aside I think the boys are going to be right ticked after those loses and turn in an A+ effort tonight with another 1 goal victory!

Boondocker said...

I'm picking the Rockets by 2 tonight. Me too with the dual media, TV with no volume, Bartel cranked to 8. Go Rockets Go!!

Anyone know the status of Mcolgan? Can he still join the rockets after his season ends...what league and team is he currently with?

Jared Comeau said...

Amazing game tonight!!!!

apsco17 said...

Loved that game.! Nice to see the Rockets play to their potential tonight.

apsco17 said...

Good question about McColgan, boondocker. I recall that he can join the Rockets this year once his team's season is over. Regan how about that? The Rockets are going to be fun to watch the next couple years as they have 3 young middle-weight instigators in Callahan, Gogel, and McColgin.

Jess Rubenstein said...

Way to go Rockets (and Tysen) with a great win.