Barrie is first to score three

• Tyler Myers never did it. Shea Weber couldn't accomplish it. Even offensive defenceman Josh Gorges couldn't pull it off. Tyson Barrie became the first Kelowna Rockets defenceman to score three goals in a game, leading his team to an impressive 3-0 shutout win Saturday night over the Vancouver Giants. Barrie scored twice on the power play and then scored the natural hattrick into an empty net for the Rockets third straight win.
• Barrie's three goal effort is just another example of how valuable he is to this team. When the Rockets hand out their team awards next Monday, Barrie should take home the MVP honours for his tremendous season.
• Barrie will play his 200th career game Tuesday night in Spokane. He will enter that game with 168 career points.
• As hot as Barrie was Saturday night, the gifted defenceman had just two goals in his last 12 games heading into last night's contest.
• Barrie grabs the headlines on this night but this was a solid effort by the home team. Goaltender Adam Brown was again solid while the defense and forwards were full marks for helping the 18 year-old earn his second shutout in four games.
• Brandon McMillan extended his point streak to seven games with a three assist effort. McMillan had an eight game point streak to start the season.
• The Rockets have now recorded back-to-back shutouts and has not allowed a goal in 129 minutes and 8 seconds.
• The game against the Giants had a definite playoff feel too it. The fireworks early in the game likely had something to do with it. A fight between 20 year-old Rockets captain Lucas Bloodoff and Giants d-man Nolan Toigo just 32 seconds into the game told you this game would be played with intensity. The game featured four fights, the most surprising was when 17 year-old Brett Bulmer knocked heads with Giants sixteen year-old rookie David Musil. It was Musil's first WHL fight.
• It was nice to see WHL referee Graham Skilliter return to the ice after a scary incident in Kelowna last month. Skilliter was sent to hospital with a concussion after a collision with Rockets forward Brandon McMillan. Skilliter was back on the ice sharing the refereeing duties Saturday night with Derek Herman.