Playoff bound despite late game letdown

• When you have an opponent by the throat, don’t give them any chance to breath. The Kelowna Rockets let that happen against the Portland Winterhawks Saturday night at Memorial Coliseum. With a 2-1 lead late into the third period, the Hawks scored two goals in a span of a minute and 25 seconds, in a 3-2 come-from behind win. Essentially the Rockets were just over 5 minutes away from earning two points and recording their 30th win of the season.
• The loss was just the third this season for the Rockets when leading after 40 minutes.
• Where has the power play gone? A threat to score in January has now dried up in February. The Rockets are just 3 for 25 (12%) in their last five games. The Rockets were 0 for 5 against the Hawks. Conversely, Portland’s lone power play goal ties the game with just over 5 minutes remaining in regulation time.
• The Rockets failed to score a power play goal against the Hawks in the seasonal series. Overall the Rockets were 0 for 14 with the man advantage and were 0-3-0-1 in the four games.
• Adam Brown was solid in goal and was full marks for third star status. Brown made 36 saves on the night and was steady throughout. With Brown’s performance Saturday and Mark Guggenberger’s effort Friday night, the coaching staff can’t go wrong with playing either guy Sunday against Seattle.
• Looking for courage and a scoring punch? Look no further than to 17 year-old Brett Bulmer. Bulmer doesn’t score, but gets involved with a third period fight with Oliver Gabriel. Bulmer now has three fighting majors in five games. These days Bulmer is just looking at getting involved in some way for the betterment of the team.
• Forward Spencer Main is hurt early in the first period and doesn’t return.
• The Rockets clinch a playoff spot despite the loss. Seattle losses 4-2 to Everett, officially sending Kelowna to the second season.
• Do you remember Joe Suderman? Suderman is at chiropractic school in Portland and came out to watch his old team play. Suderman played 164 games with the Rockets from 1998-2001 before being traded to Prince Albert. Suderman is an old teammate of Rockets assistant coach Ryan Cuthbert.