Lots of shots=little reward

• Snake bitten. That may best describe the Kelowna Rockets woes in the offensive zone in two of three losses on the weekend. After firing 37 shots at the Portland Winterhawk net in a 3-2 loss Saturday, the Rockets upped that total to 43 one night later in a 3-1 loss Sunday to the Seattle Thunderbirds. The Rockets were so desperate to get the tying goal late in the game that they threw Tyson Barrie up front as a forward in an effort to send the game into overtime.
• In this game, the Rockets power play didn’t really have a chance to flex its muscle. Only one power play was awarded the visitors, ending abruptly after defenceman Antonie Corbin took an interference penalty. The Rockets were technically 0 for 1 while the T-Birds were 0 for 5.
• The game winning goal is the result of a gaffe by defenceman Tyson Barrie. Barrie has his pocket picked at the left face-off circle by T-Birds leading point getter Prab Rai. Rai quickly spins and fires the puck, beating a startled Mark Guggenberger. While Guggenberger should be ready at all times, it was a rare occurrence to see Barrie stripped off the puck in a dangerous area around his net.
• I liked Guggenberger’s play again Sunday night. While he saw no where near the pucks that Seattle counterpart Calvin Pickard did, Guggenberger made a nice save off of T-Birds forward Brenden Silvester, who was awarded a second period penalty shot.
• Pickard comes up large by stoning Rockets forward Geordie Wudrick on a breakaway chance when the game is still scoreless. Wudrick’s backhand appears to go through Pickard’s legs, but the goaltender gets enough of it to deflect it wide of the far post.
• Let me do my best Pierre McGwire imitation. Get excited Seattle about Branden Troock. The 15 year-old scored his first WHL goal to open the scoring. Playing on a line with leading scorer Prab Rai and Charles Wells, the three created some great chances in the attacking zone. Troock appears to have good size, see’s the ice well and has a good shot. He’s a synch to make the T-Birds next season.
• The only fight of the night came when 16 year-old Mitch Elliott dances with 17 year-old Rockets d-man Mitchell Chapman. The 6’5 forward doesn’t fight often but should. An impressive tilt by the former teammate of Rockets forward Brett Bulmer.
• The loss extended the Rockets losing streak to 4 games (0-3-0-1) while snapping the Birds 17 game losing streak. It’s Seattle’s first regulation win since early January.
• Know wonder they use nicknames in hockey. Can you imagine what Seattle Thunderbirds coach Rob Sumner would have to go through if he didn’t? The T-Birds have three players with the first name pronounced Bren-dun. There is Brenden Silvester and Brenden Dillion and Brendan Rouse. Now throw into the mix newcomer Branden Troock.