Saturday, September 26, 2009

Solid work ethic+execution=W

  • The Kelowna Rockets had one thing missing from their 4-1 road loss Friday night in Kamloops. Twenty-four hours later they found it. The work ethic remained intact but this time the execution offensively was there in a solid 5-0 win Saturday night over the Blazers.
  • After generating 37 shots Friday night, the Rockets peppered Blazers goaltender Jon Groenheyde with 49 on Saturday. Stepan Novotny scored twice and added an assist while Shane McColgan and Brandon McMillan had two assists each.
  • McColgan played his best game in a Rockets uniform. His picture perfect up ice pass that sent Brett Bulmer all alone on a breakaway was fantastic, but his on the tape setup to Novotny on a second period power play stole the show. McColgan was full marks for being named the games first star.
  • It was nice to see Brett Bulmer and Cody Chikie score their first WHL goals. Bulmer's came on a breakaway to open the scoring while Chikie banged in a rebound off a Collin Bowman shot during a goal mouth scramble.
  • It's amazing what three power play goals will do for you. The Rockets essentially put the game away with a power play goal from Stepan Novotny in the second period after Blazers goaltender Jon Groenheyde was tagged with a slashing penalty.
  • I thought Blazers head coach Barry Smith did the right thing when he sent overage forward CJ Stretch to the box after Matej Bene was given a five minute major and game misconduct in the third period for charging. Smith must have been none to pleased with Stretch and other veterans who simply did not have the same jump and desire they did one night earlier.
  • Adam Brown earned his 3rd career shutout, making 23 saves. He needed that goose-egg after getting shelled for 12 goals in his first two starts. Brown's average is now 3.97.
  • The Rockets shutout the Blazers at home for the first time since December 10/05 when they recorded a 4-0 win. Derek Yeomans made 13 saves that evening as the Rockets fired 52 shots at Devan Dubnyk.
  • Kyle Verdino returned to the Rockets lineup for the first time after getting into a car accident this summer.
  • Edmonton Oil Kings GM Bob Green took in the game.
  • Antoine Corbin made his WHL debut. Corbin played as a forward.
  • Colin Long scored once for the San Antonio Rampage in an AHL exhibition game Saturday night.

1 comment:

grinder said...

correction Long had a goal and an assist... in a 3-2 loss in a shootout, he also shot in the shootout.