Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Rockets game notes vs. Americans

Tonight’s Preview: The Rockets and Americans are meeting for the second time this season. These two teams met back on September 19th, with the Am’s recording a 6-1 win. Following tonight’s game these two teams hook up on October 23rd in Tri City. The seasonal series concludes December 5th at Prospera Place when the Americans make a visit. The Rockets enter tonight’s game having won six straight, having out-scored the opposition 33-13. During the streak the Rockets have averaged 5.5 goals per game. Following tonight’s game the Rockets entertaining the Everett Silvertips on Saturday. The Rockets are playing the second game of a three game home stand tonight.

Making Hay while the Sun Shines: The Kelowna Rockets will play 7 of their next 9 games on home ice. The only exception is a road game in Tri City next Friday and a road game in Vancouver on Sunday October 25th. Following seven of nine games on home ice, the Rockets will then play 14 of their next 19 games before Christmas on the road.

Looking Long Term: The Rockets are just 3-3-2-0 in their last eight regular season home games against the Americans dating back to the start of the 2005-2006 season. The Americans used to make three stops in Kelowna per season, but that all ended after the 2004-2005 campaign. That season the Rockets were 3-0-0-0 vs. the Am’s.

What Happened Last Game? Brandon McMillan scored twice leading the Rockets to a 7-1 win Saturday night over the Prince George Cougars. Shane McColgan, Lucas Bloodoff, Cody Chikie, Collin Bowman and Spencer Main also scored in the lopsided win. The Rockets were 2 for 4 on the power play with Adam Brown earning his 6th straight win in goal.

‘Power’ to the people: The Rockets have scored twelve power play goals (12/32=37.5%) in their last six games. The Rockets have scored a power play goal in eight of the nine games this season. The Rockets were 0/8 in a 4-1 loss in Kamloops September 25th.

Who’s Hot – Who’s Not: Brandon McMillan has points in all eight games he’s played this season. McMillan has 4+11=15 this season. Stepan Novotny has points in 7 of the 9 games this season. Shane McColgan is riding a six game point streak (4+7=11). Mitchell Callahan has points in four of his last six games (2+4=6). Kyle St. Denis has eight points in his last five games (4+4=8). Lucas Bloodoff has goals in five of his last seven games.

Game Day Tidbits: The Americans are returning to Prospera Place for the first time since last years Western Conference Semi Final. The Rockets beat the Americans in all three home games in that series by scores of 7-2, 4-3 in overtime and 6-2. The Rockets would win that playoff series in six games…Rockets 16 year-old Shane McColgan is tied for the league lead in points for rookies…When calculating goals for and against, the Rockets have a +11 rating, tops in the league. The Rockets +11 is tied with Moose Jaw and Calgary…Veteran defenseman Tyson Barrie has missed 6 straight games after being injured September 25th in Kamloops…Spencer Main already has more points (5) than he had in 61 games all of last season. Main had three points (1+2=3) as a rookie in 2008/09…The Rockets completed a trade with the Swift Current Broncos last Friday. The Rockets picked up 18 year-old goaltender Chad Ketting for a conditional 7th round bantam pick…The Rockets are 6-2-1-0 after nine games this season. Last year the Rockets were 4-5-0-0 after nine games…The Rockets have scored 40 goals in nine games this season after scoring 29 times in the teams first nine games one season ago…The Rockets have allowed 29 goals against this season after surrendering 36 goals after nine games last year…Ryan Huska has 91 regular season victories…The Rockets have participated in 27 shootout games since the new format was implemented for the start of the 2005/06 season. The Rockets are 12 and 15.

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