Don't let the lopsided score fool ya

(Photo courtesy of Marissa Baecker)

• Often times the final score in a hockey game doesn't tell the true story on how it was played. Wednesday night's 7-3 win by the Kelowna Rockets over the Prince George Cougars would be a good example of that. Four-third period goals lifted the Rockets to their 9th win of the season after the two teams skated to a 3-3 tie through 40 minutes. In fact, the Cougars tied the game with a buzzer beater at the 19:59 mark after defenceman Cody Carlson knocked a bouncing puck past goaltender Adam Brown. In my opinion, the home team was fortunate to be tied heading into the intermission after the Cougars appeared to be the better team through the first half of the second period thanks to their work ethic and physical play.
• While Colton Sissons scored twice, the team captain played a quiet game through the first two periods. He was not alone. Several of the Rockets veteran players didn't exactly lead the charge in the first half of the game when it was in doubt. Role players like Tyrell Goulbourne, Jessey Astles and defensive defenceman Kevin Smith helped the home team earn a 3-3 tie through 40 minutes. Astles' goal came after line mate Brett Bulmer made a nice move, took a shot that Cougars goaltender Devon Fordyce got a piece of, before the rugged forward deposited the puck into the net for his second goal of the season. Outside of that one play, Bulmer too played a relatively quiet game.
  
• Smith's goal was his first in 22 games.
  
• The Rockets ended the night going 3 for 4 on the power play, with Sissons, Smith and Carter Rigby getting goals with the extra man. Smith celebrated his 250th career game with a two points effort after assisting on Cody Chikie's third period goal to make the score 6-3. I have no problem with Chikie's goal, outside of the fact it was scored when the game was already decided. Do you not look for your veteran players to score the timely goals when the game is on the line?
• A solid game by defenceman Damon Severson. Severson was the most physical of the Rockets d-man with two significant hits at the Rockets blue line. Severson's best play of game came in the third period when the 17 year-old went coast-to-coast before ringing one off the post. Had he scored, it would have been the best goal of the season.
• The biggest hit came in the second period from Cougars forward Linden Springer when he sent rookie d-man Madison Bowey into the Rockets bench.
  
• I thought Adam Brown made some timely saves, especially off of Cougars forward Spencer Asuchak in the third period when the Rockets held a slim 4-3 lead. A stop with a right pad from in close resulted in Sissons scoring his second goal of the period on the power play a short time later.
  
• The win was the Rockets third straight, matching a mark they set at the start of the season with victories over Everett, Vancouver and Tri City.
• The seven goal out-burst was the Rockets highest goal total of the season. The Rockets beat Vancouver twice earlier this season by scores of 6-3.
• All hands will have to be on deck Friday when the defending WHL champion Kootenay Ice come to town. No less than a 60 minute effort, with the top forwards making a major impact, will be needed to extend the Rockets winning streak to four games.