Game Notes vs. Giants

Tonight’s Preview: The Kelowna Rockets and Vancouver Giants are meeting in game three of a best of seven Western Conference Championship Series. The series is all tied at one win apiece after the Rockets opened with a 4-2 win in game one before the Giants earned a 4-3 overtime win in game two. Game four is Thursday night at Prospera Place before the series moves back to Vancouver for game five on Saturday. These two teams are meeting in the WHL playoffs for the first time since 2005. That season the two teams met in round one with the Rockets winning in six games. These two teams also met in 2003, with the Rockets eliminating the Giants in four straight in round one. This season the Giants beat the Rockets in 5 of the 8 meetings, yet the Rockets won the last three games. Overall the Giants out-scored the Rockets 30-23 in the eight games. The Rockets were 9 for 40 (22.5%) on the power play in the seasonal series while the Giants were 11 for 48 (22.9%) with the extra man.

What’s Happened So Far? The Rockets have out-scored the Giants 7-6 in the first two playoff games. Of the 13 goals that have been scored in the series, eight have been scored even strength. The Rockets are 2 for 9 in the series on the power play (22.2%) while the Giants are 3 for 15 (20%). Of the 13 goals scored in the first two games, 11 have been scored in the final 40 minutes of the game. Only one goal has been scored in the first period, with a single goal coming in overtime. Ironically both teams have registered 59 shots on goal in the first two games.

Round Two Recap: The Rockets eliminated the Tri City Americans in six games in a Western Conference semi final series. The Rockets lost the first two games on the road before winning four straight to advance to the Western Conference final for the fifth time in the last eight seasons. The Rockets out-scored the Americans 27-16. Overall the Rockets were 10 for 29 (34.5%) on the power play while the Americans were 6 for 30 (20%). The home team won five of the six games. Jamie Benn led the Rockets with 4+9=13 in the six games.

Round One Recap: The Rockets eliminated the Kamloops Blazers in four straight games in the opening round. Overall the Rockets out-scored the Blazers 17-8 in the four games. Jamie Benn led the Rockets with ten points in the series (3+7=10), while Cody Almond, Tyson Barrie, and Tyler Myers each had five points apiece. Mark Guggenberger started in all four games, going 4-0-0-0, with a goals against average of 1.91.

Interesting Data: The Rockets have opened the scoring in 7 of the twelve games in the playoffs. After opening up the scoring just once in four games against Kamloops in round one, the Rockets were able to open the scoring in five of the six games against Tri City…The Rockets have scored a power play goal in nine of the 12 playoff games…The Rockets are 9 and 3 in 12 career playoff games against the Giants…Cody Almond was the Rockets leading scorer against the Giants during the regular season. Almond had 4+5=9 while Colin Long was next on the list with 2+6=8. Jamie Benn had Almond led the team in goals scored against the Giants with 4 each. Mark Guggenberger had a goals against average of 2.66 in four starts…The Rockets are now 2 and 1 in overtime in the playoffs. Jamie Benn’s overtime winner in game four of a second round series came on the heels of Cody Almond’s exploits in game three of an opening round series against Kamloops. The Rockets lost game two of this series when Casey Pierro-Zabotel scored with 35 seconds left in the first overtime period.

Benny and the Jets: Jamie Benn has 35 career playoff points in just 19 games. Benn has 11+24=35. Benn has points in 18 of 19 career playoff games dating back to last season. Cody Almond has points in 11 of 12 playoffs games. Both Benn and Almond were held off the score sheet in game one.

Who’s Hot: Mikael Backlund has points in six straight games (6+6=12). Backlund also has goals in five of his last six games. Ian Duval has goals in four straight games, and has 5+1=6 over that period. Tyson Barrie has 2+7=9 in his last nine games. Tyler Myers has points in eight of twelve playoff games, yet does not have a point in this series. Almond has goals in four of his last seven games. Jamie Benn has goals in five of his last seven games.