Record remains perfect despite less than perfect effort

• The Kelowna Rockets can thank goaltender Adam Brown for their 3 and 0 start to the regular season. The 20 year-old goaltender, who strangely wasn't given a game star, was the main reason behind a 4-3 win over the Tri City Americans Wednesday night at Prospera Place. Brown made several solid saves in the one goal win. Had Brown been ordinary, the Rockets would have suffered their first loss of the season.



• While Brown faced 32 shots, the quality of the saves he made really stood out. With his club leading 4-1 after 40 minutes, Brown surrendered two goals in the third period on picture perfect shots by Americans d-men Zach Yuen and Michal Plutnar. Of the three goals he allowed, none were anywhere close to being questionable.



• With Americans goaltender Ty Rimmer pulled for the extra attacker, the visitors dominated play inside the Rockets zone and everyone in the building was holding their breath waiting for the dam to break. Surprisingly, despite the territorial advantage, the shots were just 10-3 Tri City at periods end. Despite sending out their top six players to find the equalizing goal, many shots found the shin pad of a Rockets defender or Brown made a good save.



• The Rockets really struggled on the power play. In fact, the best scoring chances for the Americans came while playing shorthanded. The Rockets d-men often bobbled pucks which created no less than two breakaway chances for the visitors. In the end the Rockets were 0 for 4 on the power play and the unit didn't look anything like we witnessed last Saturday when it went 3 for 6 in a 6-3 win over Vancouver.



• I always knew that Americans defenceman Zach Yuen was a good player, but not that good. Outside of Brown, Yuen was the best player on the ice. While scoring twice with two picture perfect shots over the glove of Brown, Yuen could have had the hat-trick had it not been for a solid stop by Brown on a Yuen back hand in the second period.



• Brendan Shinnimin and Adam Hughesman didn't disappoint. The two-20 year old forwards were used without hesitation by Americans head coach Jim Hiller. Like the Rockets used Tyson Barrie in every situation last season, Hiller went to those two players time and time again to get back in the game. It would have been interesting to find out how much ice time those two players logged.



• As one sided as the third period was, the Rockets were no pushover in the first-two frames. Two of the goals were the result of crashing the net and beating the Americans to rebounds. Colton Sisson's third goal of the season was the result of goaltender Ty Rimmer appearing to play the pass. Overall, I didn't think Rimmer did his team a lot of favors.



• While it was a rough night for the Rockets defensive core, I liked the play of MacKenzie Johnston. While he picked up two assists, his overall play in his own zone was significantly better than his teammates.



• Tyrell Goulbourne joins teammate Carter Rigby as two Rockets that have registered Gordie Howe hat-tricks this season. Goulbourne assisted on Spencer Main's second period goal and then scored his first of the season about five minutes later. To complete the period, he got into a scrap with Am's rookie Lukas Walter.