I Just Don't Get It!

• If you can answer the question as to why the Kelowna Rockets' can lose to another non-playoff team, you deserve a medal. A 3-2 loss in Red Deer Friday night is nothing short of a mental lapse by a team that can look like a heavy weight champion against the top end teams and look like a 100 pound weakling against the bottom feeders.
• I can't buy the fact that the Rockets were road weary or that the Rebels were bound to break out. It marked the third time in 12 days that the Rockets suffered a loss to a team that will undoubtedly miss post season play. Failure to pick up two points leaves the Rockets three points back of Spokane in the fight for third place in the Western Conference.
• Stepan Novotny and Ian Duval each had a goal and assist in the Rockets 21st loss of the season.
• Who was the best Rocket? Mitchell Callahan will do anything in his ability to contribute, as testament to his two fighting majors in Friday's loss. Callahan now has 17 fighting majors, one better than designated tough guy Ryley Grantham. Grantham has two fights in his last 16 games, Callahan has fights in 7 of his last 10 games.
• Did you ever think someone would challenge Scott Parker for the Rockets team record of 25 fighting majors as a 17 year-old? Callahan is just 8 away from tying the mark with 8 games to play. Callahan is now 4th in penalty minutes in the league with 157.
• If others played with the same type of determination as Callahan does, these hiccups against Portland, Chilliwack and Red Deer wouldn't happen.
• What makes Friday's loss tough to swallow was the Rebels ability to score all three goals on the power play. Coming into last night's game the Rebels hadn't scored a power play goal in four games and were 0 for 19 over that stretch.
• Rebels' Darcy Kuemper should get credit for a solid game in goal. The 18 year-old (he won't turn 19 until early March) made some solid saves including a beauty off of Cody Almond in the second period. Yet while Kuemper was solid, a good portion of the Rockets 43 shots were from the outside. I just didn't think the Rockets were hungry enough or desperate enough to get in-tight shots on the Rebels netminder.
• You have to like Landon Ferraro. To think this guy has 31 goals as a 17 year-old is impressive, but what type of numbers would he put up with a stronger supporting cast?
• The Rockets played this one without leading goal scorer Jamie Benn. Benn stayed back in his hotel room in Calgary. Benn is sick, yet will give it a try tonight when the Rockets close out the road trip in Calgary against the Hitmen.
• Calgary Flames Western Scout Ron Sutter took in Friday's game. He likely wouldn't be pleased with Mikael Backlund's play. Backlund took two bad penalties and never was a threat to score. Against a team like Red Deer, the Rockets top end players - Backlund included -should be able to create quality chances in the offensive zone.
• Despite the loss, I anticipate the Rockets playing a solid game in Calgary tonight. They would like nothing more than to hand the Hitmen their first loss in 13 games, and get in the way of them moving into the WHL record books by winning their 33rd home game of the season.
• I expect Mikael Backlund to play his best game of the season at the Saddledome. He better because Flames GM Darryl Sutter will be watching from the press box.
• The Rockets 4 game winning streak came to an end with Friday's loss while the Rebels 6 game losing streak is history.