Taking one on the chin in Tri City

• Tyson Barrie likely had no idea he had reached a personal milestone, and on Saturday night it really didn't matter. The 18 year-old defenceman scored the Rockets lone goal - his 100th career point - in a lopsided 6-1 loss to the Tri City Americans.
• Despite the lopsided score, the Americans had just a 3-1 lead heading into the third period before scoring three times to put the game away.
• The Americans created numerous scoring chances, something the Rockets had very few of in this game. Brandon McMillan, who returned to the lineup after arriving earlier in the day from the training camp of the NHL's Anaheim Ducks, had two significant chances but was unable to finish.
• If the Rockets were tired at games end, the main reason may have been the amount of time spent chasing the puck. Significant amounts of time were spent defending not generating scoring chances at the other end of the ice.
• After losing 6-5 in overtime Thursday night, the Rockets have now given up 12 goals in two games. Of those 12 goals allowed, five have been on the power play with one shorthanded.
• The best Rockets' player? Shane McColgan was again good, which is a good and bad thing. When a 16 year-old is your best forward it shows that the older players need to do more to match that type of intensity.
• The best American? I sure like Tyler Schmidt. The defenceman logs big minutes and chips in offensively. Schmidt also had a big hit on Rockets forward Kyle St. Denis late in the second period.
• When was the last time the Rockets gave up 6 or more goals in back-to-back games? The Rockets fell 7-5 to Portland October 12/2001 and then lost 6-4 to Lethbridge one night later.
• The loss extended the Rockets losing streak in Tri City to 7 regular season games. The Americans have now won 9 straight home openers.