Gritty Forward Becomes Goal Scorer

• In the playoffs one player with a marginal skill set is often times able to stand up and score timely goals. That player for the Vancouver Giants is rugged winger Lance Bouma. Bouma's goal with 68 seconds left in regulation time lifted the visitors to a 3-2 win, and a 2-1 lead in the best of seven Western Conference championship series. Bouma now has 7 goals in the playoffs, two of those in this series. The spark plug had just 9 goals all of this season, much of which was spent on the injury list.
• Bouma's goal came after an odd man rush developed inside the Rockets zone. Bouma elected to shoot, and with a rolling puck coming off the tape of his stick, beat goaltender Mark Guggenberger high to the blocker side - short side.
• When I say Bouma has a marginal skill set, all I am saying is he knows his greatest contribution is made when he crashes and bangs body's, and if he can chip in offensively, great! In a pre-game interview I spoke highly of Bouma's play in games one and two and told Don Hay I thought he was his best player. Don't believe me? Check out the audio. Would I want Bouma on my team? Ya!! www.am1150.ca/player/player?mediapath=&type=mp3&fi=files%2Fam1150%2Fsrimedia%2FR09_1759.MP3&nid=915622
• The goal was the eventual back breaker for the Rockets, but a 5 on 3 power play chance with about 17 minutes left in the third period in a 2-2 game was the real killer. With both Brent Regner and Craig Schira in the penalty box, the Rockets were able to generate several quality chances on Giants goaltender Tyson Sexsmith, yet the veteran shut the door with some big saves. For the first time in this series Sexsmith won the battle of the goaltenders, and after looking average in games one and two, was a difference maker in his teams second win of the series.
• The Rockets ended the game 1 for 6 on the power play, but it felt like they failed to score on all six attempts. The reason? The power play goal they did get came courtesy of Jamie Benn being in the right place at the right time by coming out of the penalty box and gathering up a loose puck in the neutral zone. Benn skated in alone on Sexsmith, beating him between the legs on the clear cut breakaway.
• I thought Ryley Grantham had a solid game for the home team. Grantham was involved physically, was in a series of pushing matches after the whistle, and even got into 'verbal warfare' with Giants goaltender Tyson Sexsmith after marginal contact was made between the two as Sexsmith played the puck behind the Giants net.
• Rockets head coach Ryan Huska pointed to his team failing to get significant secondary shots on Sexsmith. While the Rockets fired 35 shots on net, Huska didn't feel the quality was good enough to beat a goaltender that got better as the game wore on.
• I thought both Evander Kane and Casey Pierro-Zabotel had quiet games. Neither were a force offensively, as Craig Cunningham and Bouma took charge. What's scary is if those two come alive, what type of trouble are the Rockets in for?
• After looking stellar playing together with Cody Almond, Mikael Backlund and Ian Duval couldn't create the magic they had in games one and two. It wasn't because of a lack of trying, but Jamie Benn and Colin Long appeared to be a greater threat offensively in game three.
• It marked the first time in the playoffs that the Rockets suffered a loss at home. The Rockets are 5 and 1 at Prospera Place in post season.
• Giants co-owner Pat Quinn took in Tuesday's game. He was low profile, elected to watch the game from a luxury box.
• It was nice to see Kyle St. Denis return to the Rockets lineup in game three. The 19 year-old forward saw a limited role, but it was just nice to see #23 in Kelowna Rockets colours. St. Denis had missed 25 straight games with a concussion.
• Be sure to check back later this morning for pic's and video from game three.