Saturday, March 14, 2009

Rockets Cash-In At ATM


  • The Kamloops Blazers organization may want to re-think handing out their year end awards prior to the start of their final regular season home game. The new measure may have confused the home team into thinking the 72 game regular season schedule was in fact over. All joking aside, the Blazers didn't show up for the first 20 minutes, a period dominated by the Rockets, who carried a 3-0 lead into the intermission and a 16-0 advantage on the shot clock. In the end the Rockets left town with a 6-4 win.
  • Despite the tremendous start by the Rockets and the dismal opening period by the Blazers, it took a 3rd period goal from Mitchell Callahan to finally seal a game that the Rockets appeared to have in the bag after the opening period.
  • Ian Duval wasn't given a game star, yet the overage forward had a strong outing by creating several chances in the offensive zone. Duval ended the game with a goal and two assists, and along with Colin Long, caused headaches inside the Blazers zone.
  • With a 5-0 lead, the Rockets found themselves in penalty trouble, essentially allowing the Blazers back in the game. Two quick power play goals, and the five goal lead was down to just three. Some of the penalties were clear infractions, some were just bad calls by a crew of Dan Cowley and Carl Poole. I thought both battled to see who could be the worse official, and at the end of the night it was a tie. It was laughable when Blazers defenseman Zak Stebner was fingered to the penalty box in the 3rd period for holding after punching Rockets forward Ryley Grantham in the back of the head.
  • I have never seen Rockets head coach Ryan Huska so vocal on the bench towards the officials. I liked it. He had a bone to pick with them on several occasions and let it be known.
  • Colin Long scored his 32nd and 33rd goals of the season in the win. A new career high comes after scoring 31 times last season.
  • The Rockets lost Mikael Backlund and Lucas Bloodoff to injury. Backlund was hurt in the first period while Lucas Bloodoff was injured in the second period after sliding head first into the end boards after being tripped. After laying on his stomach for a few minutes, Bloodoff was helped off the ice by Rockets trainer Jeff Thorburn and Blazers athletic therapist Colin Robinson. Once he got to the bench, Bloodoff was seen making his way to the Rockets dressing room without any help. That's great news for an incident that looked scary at first glance.
  • Who do the Blazers start in goal in Saturday's rematch? I'd be shocked not to see backup Jon Groenheyde after his relief appearance Friday night. After being yanked after the Rockets fifth goal, starter Justin Leclerc was relieved of his duties by Groenheyde who came up with some big glove hand saves off of Jamie Benn in the third period to give his team a chance at a late game rally.
  • The win extended the Rockets winning streak to 6 games. The Rockets had a season high 6 game winning streak stopped February 16th in a 4-3 loss in Portland.
  • The Rockets won for the 45th time this season, the first time in three seasons they've accomplished that feat. The last time the Rockets won 45+ games was in 2005-2006. That season the team won 46 games.
  • The Rockets also won for the 18th time on the road Friday night. To think two seasons ago this team won just 6 road games.
  • The Rockets are 8-0-0-0 against the Blazers in the nine game seasonal series.
  • The best line may have come from color analyst Gord McGarva when reviewing the three stars in last night's game, where two of the three were captured by the Blazers. McGarva started the three stars by saying "as selected by the Kamloops Blazers Booster Club".

17 comments:

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KBF said...

Sometimes I can't tell Regan if you are a professional PBP guy, or just a fan who gets to call the games. After that 1st period, the Rockets did not look good at all. And as for Cheeseburger, do you think with that hideous goaltending display he put up is going to carry the Rockets to the promise land?

Yeah Kelowna owns the Blazers this year, just like the Blazers have owned them the past couple years. It's the way it goes. Blazers just don't have urgency to play the way they can against the Rockettes.

Jared Comeau said...

Keep up the class act KBF :D

KBF said...

Yeah ok Jared, says the guy who had "The Giants suck ass" in your facebook status. Enjoy it while it lasts Jared, cause next year, karma comes back and bites you in the ass while the Rockets head on back down the ladder.

apsco17 said...

Hey KBF, what does it say about the Blazers if they "don't have the urgency" when 5th place is still up for grabs?

Rocketwatcher said...

Kamloops doesn't have it this year to beat good teams over a full game. And without the penalty parade it would have been a lot worse for Kamloops last night. That is hardly Regan's problem.And hockey always cycles so Kelowna should enjoy this season..And hopefully it last into May...

J.S. said...

Huska needs to quit whining about penalties. Some games just go like that. Keep benching your hitters until it's a ringette game...that's better?? Penalties caused by aggression are better than holding, etc.

Regan Bartel said...

I was impressed by how vocal he was on the bench - towards to the referee's. The four consecutive penalties they took in the second period essentially let the Blazers back in the game when they were clearly being out-played. A 5-0 lead turns into a 5-2 lead after 40minutes. I'd be harping on the penalties too.

g.k said...

Bad timing with the injuries to Lucas & Michael, any word on the extent of them Regan?? Do you think the Rockets were guilty of taking their foot off the pedal a bit at 5-0 or was it a case of the zebra's feeling sorry for the Blazer's ??

Regan Bartel said...

Combinations of the two. I felt bad for Guggenberger. No work in the first period - non - makes you pretty stale the rest of the way. His greatest battle was staying with it mentally.

As for the injuries, I wouldn't be surprised to see both of them back tonight. You would think Lucas would have a pretty sore neck this morning though.

KBF said...
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KBF said...
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KBF said...

As for your can't play against top teams for a full game? Yeah, uhh just another example of a Rockette fan who doesn't know a thing about hockey outside Propera Place? 3-4-1 against Vancouver, 1-1-2 against the Ams, 1-2 vs Calgary, 1-0 vs Brandon. At least we aren't losing regularly to the Bruins, Hawks and Cougars like yourselves.


And you're right, if they can't get up for a game against the Rockettes, then there is definetly a problem.


As for reffing, yeah a couple nice elbows and high sticks to the face by the Rockettes that went undetected.

apsco17 said...

KBF, I don't forsee a good next couple weeks for you as I'm sure you're going to imagine plenty of conspiracies both tonight and when the Blazers get knocked out first round. You may have to consult a mental health professional...

KBF said...

Like I said, enjoy this season, cause there won't be another like it in Kelowna for a few years. Kamloops on the other hand is on to bigger things next season.

Rocketwatcher said...

KBF if teams roll in and think Kamloops isnt a fight you will win the amount of games you have listed .But those wins were early on.....kelowna has knocked off the heavyweights lately...and lost to teams that will not matter in three days.....maybe Hitch will come back to coach you guys too?

entropyyy said...

bigger things next year,eh? maybe at the end of next year you'll be 2 games over .500?