Thoughts from Saturday's one goal win

• Let's be honest. Import Filip Vasko did more Saturday night for the Kelowna Rockets in one game than the teams two European forwards were able to accomplish all of last season. Vasko won a game for his team by scoring the shootout winner in the Rockets 5-4 victory in Everett. Vasko, the Rockets seventh shooter, beat goaltender Kent Simpson with a nice back hand to spoil the Tips home opener.
  
• Nineteen year-old Spencer Main had a strong game, scoring once and adding an assist. Main may have had the best move in the shootout by making a last second decision to go back hand after Simpson gave him nothing on the forehand.
  
• Main scored ten goals all of last season. All ten were scored on home ice. It was Main's first road goal since scoring in Moose Jaw on December 12, 2009 in a 2-1 shootout win.
• Is Tyson Baillie for real? The 16 year-old opened the scoring with a nice shot that beat Simpson high over the glove. It was Baillie's first career WHL goal. What I liked about the goal was the time in which it was scored. A scoreless tie and two rookies get the visiting team on the board first. Now that's impressive. Sixteen year-old Austin Ferguson earned his first career WHL point with an assist on Baillie's goal.
• The Tips should be pretty happy with the one point. The Rockets had a 4-2 lead with less than 2 and a half minutes left in regulation time before two quick goals sent the game into overtime.
  
• He won't get much credit at the end of the night, but 18 year-old Myles Bell logged a ton of ice time in his Rockets debut. I am not sure he garnered that much ice time in Regina but he was used in several key situations in Saturday's win.
  
• Adam Brown gave up four goals in the game, but he again made some terrific saves. The biggest came when he stoned Tips forward Josh Birkholz on a penalty shot that was awarded in overtime. Birkholz was given the luxury after Bell hauled down the 20 year-old on a partial breakaway.
• I love when the referee's have the 'bojangles' to call a player for diving. It happened twice as the Tips were called for 'embellishment' in the second and third periods.
• A solid tilt between Rockets forward Jessey Astles and 19 year-old Tips tough guy Jesse Mychan. As the saying goes, it's not how you start but how you finish. Astles waited patiently before landing a couple of solid shots.
• I've always enjoyed watching Tips d-man Ryan Murray, but Saturday night wasn't one of his better games. Three penalties seemed uncharacteristic for one of the league's smartest young players.
  
• Shane McColgan returned from the training camp of the New York Rangers, but his flight plans had him land in Kelowna rather than nearby Seattle. The Rockets leading scorer from last season was a scratch. Brett Bulmer remains at the training camp with the NHL's Minnesota Wild.
• Colton Sissons wore the 'C' Saturday night but he hasn't necessarily been anointed the honor for the entire season. That will be decided once Bulmer returns from training camp.