A point well earned

• The Kelowna Rockets may have extended their losing streak to five games Thursday night with a 4-3 overtime loss in Chilliwack, but earning a single point for an injury ravaged team that fought back from a 3-1 third period deficit can only be viewed as a positive. The Rockets iced a team with just 10 forwards before eventually losing 17 year-old Spencer Main early in the first period after a solid hit by Bruins defenceman Brandon Manning.
• For the first time this season the Rockets earned a point when trailing after 40 minutes. Up until last night's overtime loss, the Rockets were 0 and 16 when trailing after two periods.
• The Rockets could have put the game away when they were awarded a power play with 50 seconds left in regulation time. A gutsy call by veteran referee Matt Kirk against the home team late in a tied hockey game.
• While Rockets assistant coach Ryan Cuthbert suggested on the AM 1150 post game show that his team needs to be more disciplined by staying out of the penalty box, several calls in the game - specifically by referee Pat Smith - were extremely soft. In fact I would suggest that 80 percent of the penalties called in the game were by that one official.
• I am not sure who selected the three stars in Thursday's game but they were right on the money. Not often do you see the visiting team getting two of the three stars, especially when they lose the game. Tyson Barrie earned the first star with his goal and one assist performance while Mark Guggenberger was accurately chosen as the third star for his solid work between the pipes.
• The win moves the Rockets one point up on the Kamloops Blazers for 7th place in the Western Conference and within three points of Everett for 6th.
• Prospera Centre in Chilliwack is one of my favourite vantage points in the league to call a game. The only problem I have with the building is the atmosphere. Another small crowd that makes little noise has to have ownership concerned. Outside of Prince George, I would say Chilliwack may have the worst atmosphere in the Western Conference. Sad but true.