Game notes vs. Tips

Tonight’s Preview The Rockets and Tips are meeting in game three of a best of seven Western Conference Quarter final series. In game one, the Tips were a 5-4 winner in overtime. In game two the Tips were a 5-2 winner. Game three is tonight with game four set for tomorrow. If game five is necessary it will be played Friday in Everett. The Rockets are making their 18th appearance in the WHL playoffs in 19 seasons as an organization. The only playoff miss was back in 2006-2007. These two teams are meeting for the third time in the playoffs, with the Tips winning in seven games in 2004 and in six games in 2006. In both series, the Tips did not have home ice advantage, something they have the luxury of this time around. In case you are wondering, the Rockets were 9 and 2 in eleven home playoff games last season. The only losses at Prospera Place were 3-2 to Vancouver in the Western Conference final series and in game four of the WHL final against Calgary.

Scoring by period:
Period: 1 2 3 OT Totals
Rockets: 0 3 3 0 6
Tips: 2 3 4 1 10

Penalties by period:
Period: 1 2 3 OT Totals
Rockets: 7 5 3 0 15
Tips: 4 5 4 0 13

Shots on goal by period:
Period: 1 2 3 OT Total
Rockets: 14 22 22 2 60
Tips: 26 26 27 3 82

Game two recap: Ryan Murray, Shane Harper and Chris Langkow each scored once and added two assists leading the Tips to a 5-2 win Saturday night. Geordie Wudrick scored both goals for the Rockets in the loss. Adam Brown made 26 saves in the setback. The Rockets were 0 for 2 on the power play while the Tips were 2 for 6 with the extra man. Overall the Tips out-shot the Rockets 31-26.

Game one recap: Daniel Iwanski scored the game winner at the 5:18 mark of overtime lifting the Everett Silvertips to a 5-4 win over the Kelowna Rockets. The Rockets erased a two goal deficit and actually had a 4-3 lead late in the game before the Tips tied it. Brett Bulmer, Geordie Wudrick, Collin Bowman and Antoine Corbin scored for the Rockets, while Adam Brown made 46 saves. The Rockets were 1 for 5 on the power play while the Tips were 2 for 3.

On this date: The Rockets are 3 and 0 in playoff games played on March 23rd since the start of the 2000 playoffs. Back in 2002, the Rockets shutout Kamloops 3-0. In 2003 the Rockets were a 4-3 overtime winner against Vancouver. On March 23, 2004 the Rockets beat Kootenay 4-0.

Third game success: The Rockets were 3 and 1 in game three situations in last year’s playoffs. The only loss was in game three of a third round series against the Vancouver Giants. The Rockets suffered a 3-2 loss.

Game Day Tidbits: The top four leading point getters during the regular season for the Everett Silvertips have out-scored the top four point getters for the Rockets 11-6 in this series…Adam Brown has started the first two games in goal for the Rockets…Shane McColgan, who scored 25 goals this season, has been held off the score sheet in the first two games….This series has featured two fighting majors. Tyler Matheson and Spencer Main have both been tagged with 5 minute fighting majors….Six players on the Rockets roster have 31 games of WHL playoff experience. Lucas Bloodoff (7+7=14), Brandon McMillan (0+7=7), Tyson Barrie (5+18=23 points), Collin Bowman (1+4=5) and Geordie Wudrick (9+5=14) lead the way…Since 2000, the Rockets have been involved in five overtime playoff games that have been decided in the second overtime. The two longest games were in 2003 when goals were scored at the 18:25 mark of the second OT.