Bitten again on the power play

• When a penalty killing unit shows more urgency then the other teams power play, it poses a heap of trouble for the one with the man advantage. That happened Wednesday night in the Kelowna Rockets 4-2 loss in Portland. Two-second period shorthanded goals helped vault the Winterhawks to their 15th straight home ice win while snapping the Rockets three game winning streak.

• Down 2-1 after 20 minutes, the Rockets started the second period on the power play. A lost battle against the boards resulted in Winterhawks forward Taylor Peters scoring shorthanded, giving the home team a 3-1 lead. Oliver Gabriel would make it 4-1 with another shorthanded goal, marking the 11th time this season the Rockets have given up a goal while enjoying the power play.

• The second period could have been a whole lot worse had goaltender Adam Brown not stopped 28 goal man Brad Ross on a penalty shot.

• This isn't the first time the Rockets have given up two shorthanded goals in a game this season. In Tri City, the Rockets surrender two shorthanded goals in a 5-1 loss.

• Last season the Rockets gave up ten shorthanded goals.

• It could be worse. In 1996-97, the Rockets gave up a staggering 23 shorthanded goals.

• Brett Lyons debut was a good one. Playing on the left side with Brett Bulmer and Zach Franko, the 20 year-old got into a second period scrap before scoring his 12th goal of the season on a third period power play.

• Despite the 4-2 loss, the Rockets out-shot the Hawks 35-29. It marked the first time in eight home games that Portland was out-shot.

• The Hawks have now won 15 consecutive home games. They can tie the team record set in 1993-94 tomorrow night when the two teams meet at the Rose Garden.

• An impressive debut for Hawks forward Cam Reid. Portland obtained his playing rights earlier in the week from Edmonton and the 20 year-old didn't disappoint. Playing with leading scorer Ty Rattie, Reid scored his first career WHL goal. Rattie ended the game with a goal and two assists.

• Hawks newcomer Marcel Noebels was less effective, but that is bound to happen to any player getting accustomed to new teammates.