Saturday, November 12, 2011

The number five is prominent in more ways than one.

  • The number five played a prominent role in the Kelowna Rockets 2-1 shootout win Friday night over the visiting Edmonton Oil Kings. The win snapped the Rockets' five game losing streak. Goaltender Jordon Cooke, the games first star, stopped the Oil Kings five times when the visitors could have won the game by getting one past him in the shootout. The 18 year-old also earned his first win of the season in his 5th appearance of the year. Prior to last night's win, Cooke had lost in regulation time, had lost in overtime and suffered a shootout loss last Friday against Portland. In his only other appearance, Cooke made 9 saves on 9 shots after taking over from Adam Brown in a third period setback in Kamloops.
  • This is scary. The Rockets won their 19th game of the season with that 2-1 victory over the Oil Kings. One season ago, in their 19th game, the Rockets again beat the Oil Kings 2-1. The shots Friday night were 27-25 Oil Kings. Take a guess what the shots were back on November 10th, 2010 against Edmonton? Yep, 27-25 Oil Kings.
  • While Jordon Cooke was named the games number one star, you had to feel good for forward Zach Franko. Franko scored the game winner as the Rockets won for the 6th time this season. Franko has had a rough time this season finding the back of the net.
  • Impressive goals in the shootout also came from Shane McColgan and Myles Bell. McColgan's goal showed great patience in a pressure cooker situation and Myles Bell exchanged his cage for a half visor in the shootout to score a beautiful goal that hit the cross bar and went in.
  • Rookie defenceman Cole Martin had a solid game. With no goals this season, he twice, uncharacteristically, rushed up ice with the puck with great success. The 17 year-old also made some terrific plays in his own zone. Worthy of third star status on our broadcast.
  • Tyrell Goulbourne deserves some credit in the win. The forward does very well in an opening period fight and then blocks a shot with a diving play that either hits him in the shin or ankle as he throws his body into harms way. What an effort! What a warrior!
  • I sure liked Oil Kings d-man Griffin Reinhart. Big, mobile and solid defensively. He's a beauty.
  • The best 16 year-old forward I've witnessed this season resides in Edmonton. Curtis Lazar had a great game. The best 16 year-old d-man is the one I have the privilege of watching every night.

1 comment:

jaz301 said...

Last night's game for the most part was pretty evenly matched I though. Both goalies were really the different makers. Was nice to see cooke finally win at home. He made some miraculous saves. Maybe I was wrong about what I said the other day, but I guess you cant just judge him by 1 game. Would like to see more of him.

One thing that is really frustrating with the rockets is shooting. They have a wide open shot (no one blocking there lane) and what do they do? They pass the puck. Why? If you have an open lane shoot the damn puck.