'Gugg'antuan Win

• Mark Guggenberger was considered by many as the weak link as the Kelowna Rockets began their quest for a WHL championship in mid March. Six weeks later the 20 year-old goaltender is turning a lot of heads with his play and changing the minds of many who believed he was not the answer when the Rockets acquired him at the trade deadline. Guggenberger made 27 saves while Mikael Backlund scored twice in the third period leading the Rockets to a 5-2 win over the Calgary Hitmen, taking a 2-0 lead in the WHL championship series.
• Guggenberger played Saturdays game essentially breathing through one nostril. A bloody nose in game one had him playing with a nose plug in game two. While it wasn't a pretty sight, it is safe to say he was breathing a little easier after winning back-to-back games against a Hitmen team that hadn't lost two straight games at home all season.
• If Hitmen defenceman Keith Seabrook’s objective in this series is to get in the face of Rockets leading scorer Jamie Benn, it is fair to say he has accomplished his goal just two short games into this series. Seabrook leveled Benn in a second period collision in game one and then literally knocked him out of the game with a first period hit in game two. The hit was so hard that Benn lost his helmet before crashing to the ice. Benn never returned to action.
• Rockets forward Colin Long could have been seeing stars too, but avoided an Alex Plante forearm that just missed Long's head. Michael Stone also got into the act with two solid hits, forcing Rockets rookie Mitchell Callahan to ask the skilled defenceman to a fight. Stone made the wise decision by rejecting Callahan’s proposal.
• While the Hitmen pushed the envelope physically, Rockets forward Cody Almond was the most aggressive Rockets forward by either taking a hit to make a play or taking out his frustrations on a Hitmen physically.
• Evan Bloodoff is arguably the fastest skater on the Kelowna Rockets and used that speed to perfection Saturday night. Bloodoff blew past two Hitmen defenceman by using his speed to the outside and essentially set up two of the Rockets four-third period goals. Only teammate Brandon McMillan could match Evan’s breakaway speed.
• I still believe the Rockets defensive core has benefited from the loss of Luke Schenn. It may sound like an odd statement, but Schenn’s absence forced Tyler Myers, Tyson Barrie, Tysen Dowzak and Collin Bowman to play big minutes in crucial situations this season. Schenn’s absence also meant Brandon McMillan was forced to play defense after starting the season as a forward. Would I have rather seen Schenn in a Rockets uniform than wearing Leafs colours this season? Obviously, but being forced to play without him has made this group better players.
• How much credit does assistant coach Jeff Finley receive in working with this group?
• Paul Postma may have been a minus 4 in game two, but the Hitmen defenceman has a bullet from the blue line. Only teammate Michael Stone has a harder shot. Yet the Rockets are keenly aware of their shoot first mentality and are doing a great job of getting into shooting lanes. I don’t think I‘ve ever seen a Rockets team block shots and get into shooting lanes better than this years edition. No one gets more shots off his shins than defenseman Tysen Dowzak.
• Pat Smith and Devin Klein, please refer to how you called the game in the third period of game two and offer us that excellent display over a full 60 minutes. A non-factor in the final 20 minutes allowed the two teams to settle the game on their own merits. If we notice you – bad. If you are invisible – good!
• Despite making it a two goal game, his reaction and the reaction of those around him after a goal by Hitmen defenceman Keith Seabrook with 7 minutes left in the game gave me the sense that a late period comeback bid would fall short. The body language spoke volumes.