Fighting for 4th

• It's not often that the team that peppers the opposition goal with close to 40 shots is on the losing ending, but that's what happened Friday night in Everett. The Rockets generated 39 shots on goal, 17 in the third period, in a 4-2 loss to the Silvertips. While Tips goaltender Thomas Heemskerk was solid, he wasn't overly spectacular. Often times the Rockets shooters avoided shooting for the corners, electing instead to fire the puck into Heemskerk's midsection.
• Two of the Tips four goals were the result of goal mouth scrambles where Rockets goaltender Adam Brown was unable to locate the puck. The other two goals were identical power play markers scored off the stick of Tyler Maxwell.
• Readers of this blog have been critical of forward Tyler Matheson, but let's give the 19 year-old props for a first period fight with Tips enforcer Cameron Abney. Matheson wasn't the victor, nor did he lose. The fact that he showed up and answered the bell was a good sign.
• It was good to see Stepan Novotny find the back of the net. Novotny's power play goal in the third period was his first in 7 games.
• Tyson Barrie extended his point streak to 9 games with a goal in the third period.
• Brandon McMillan chipped in with assists on both Novotny and Barrie's goal.
• The Rockets played this one without Kyle St. Denis, Spencer Main and MacKenzie Johnston. All three are fighting the flu.
• The Rockets have now lost 4 straight road games heading into Saturday's contest in Portland.
• The Rockets sit in 5th place in the Western Conference, two points back of Everett and one point up on 6th place Kamloops. The Blazers are in Spokane Saturday night.
• The Rockets are now 0 and 6 against American based teams this season.
• The Detroit Red Wings scouting staff were well represented at the game. Among the Wings scouting staff was former Rockets assistant coach Jeff Finley.
• The crowd in Everett was again rock'n. The atmosphere in that building is second to none.