Backlund Climbs Beanstock to Beat Giant

• Mikael Backlund has been dubbed as a big time player in the big game, and the sweet skating Swede left no doubt in any ones mind that he will play in the NHL next season. Backlund scored two beautiful goals and then notched the game winner at the 4 minute mark of overtime, lifting the Rockets to a 5-4 win over the Vancouver Giants, eliminating their arch rivals in 6 games.
• Backlund's game winner came on a deflected wrist shot that came from the left point from teammate Tysen Dowzak. Dowzak's rising shot appeared to hit Backlund's body or stick and changed directions, beating Giants goaltender Tyson Sexsmith to the blocker side. The officials on the ice called it a goal, yet the play was reviewed with the use of video replay.
• You couldn't have had two better minds in the video replay room looking at the game winning goal than Kevin Muench and Richard Doerksen. Muench is the Director of Officiating for the WHL while Doerksen is the Vice President of Hockey for the WHL. After looking at replay after replay, it showed no conclusive evidence that the goal was re-directed into the goal by a high stick. After over 4 minutes of waiting to see if the goal would indeed count, the Prospera Place faithful again went into a frenzy when it was determined that the goal would stand.
• Backlund's hat trick was the first by a Rockets player in the playoffs since Simon Ferguson scored three times in a series against Tri City in 2004.
• What a comeback! Tyler Myers is ejected from the game in the third period on a hit on Giants defenceman Craig Schira. The Giants score one power play goal during the five minute major to take a 4-2 lead with just under 12 minutes left in regulation time. Despite the two goal deficit and the loss of the teams top defenceman, Jamie Benn scored a power play goal to make it a one goal game before Cody Almond's seeing eye snap shot beat Sexsmith just 33 seconds later.
• The hit by Myers on Schira left the Giants defenceman on the ice bleeding. Schira was hit heavily by Myers while on the forecheck. Schira appeared to pick up the puck, was about to skate to his right, before changing directions as Myers applied contact. The end result had Myers hitting Schira from behind, sending the veteran d-man crashing into the glass and slumping into the end boards. Schira suffered a reported broken wrist and needed stitches as his visor appeared to cut him in the face.
• With Myers in the dressing room for the remainder of the game, the Rockets defensive core bent but didn't break under the pressure. Tysen Dowzak, Tyson Barrie, Brandon McMillan and Collin Bowman stepped up their game to a level only seen in this playoff series, keeping the Giants at bay as the forwards worked feverishly to find a way to get back into the game.
• The Rockets game six win in the Western Conference final brought back memories of the last time the team advanced to the finals in 2005. In a series against Kootenay, the Rockets won game six in overtime with Shea Weber scoring the game winning goal. That season the Rockets advanced to the finals before beating Brandon in 5 games.
• The Rockets now have another banner to hang high above the Prospera Place ice. The Rockets are Western Conference Champions for the third time in franchise history.
• The Rockets face the Calgary Hitmen in the WHL final. The two teams met twice during the regular season, with both games in Cowtown. The Rockets suffered a 4-3 loss and beat the Hitmen 2-1. The one goal win came after the trade deadline with Mikael Backlund in the lineup.
• Here are some audio highlites from last night's game: www.am1150.ca/player/player?mediapath=&type=mp3&fi=files%2Fam1150%2Fsrimedia%2FR09_1799.MP3&nid=919626