Saturday, January 21, 2012

One line won't do it


  • The line of Cody Chikie, Carter Rigby and Colton Sissons created numerous scoring chances last night in a 5-3 home ice loss to the Lethbridge Hurricanes. Unfortunately, while that line was generating the bulk of the offense, the other three lines were pretty much non existent.
  • Specifically Chikie and Rigby had glorious chances to score in the first period but were denied by Hurricanes goaltender Liam Liston, who despite facing just eight shots in the first, no less than five of them were quality saves.
  • The best player on the ice was 20 year-old Brody Sutter. Sutter, the Hurricanes captain, created numerous scoring chances and dominated the play in the first period. Sutter then went out and scored twice in a span of 1:19 seconds early in the second frame to help the Hurricanes to their sixth road win of the season.
  • Rockets starting goaltender Jordon Cooke was yanked after giving up the Hurricanes fourth goal. No less than three of the goals Cooke gave up where grade 'A' scoring chances by the Hurricanes. The fourth one was a centering pass that appeared to go off Cooke and into the back of the net .
  • Despite being down 5-0 in the second period, the Rockets did show some fight by getting goals from Jesse Lees and Colton Sissons to close out the period down 5-2. Had they scored on a early third period power play, we would have been in for a terrific finish but again Liston was there to thwart any comeback attempt by the home team.
  • Colton Sissons has now scored goals in four consecutive games.
  • Tyrell Goulbourne's third period goal was his first in 19 games.
  • The Rockets are now two games below the .500 mark on home ice. Only once have the Rockets been two games under .500 at home. In 1999-2000, the team was 16-18-1-1. Back then the record translated to 16 wins, 18 losses, one tie and one overtime loss. The shootout format wasn't used back then.

4 comments:

g.k said...

I didn't think the Rockets could play any worse than they did against the Tips but boy did they prove me wrong last night. Regan what has happened to this team? it's like they don't care, no energy, no jump, they make bad judgement plays all the time, & even worse there's getting to be more empty seats every game. Are any of our injured players getting close to returning? I believe Severson must be close as he's playing in the Top Prospects game, also Astles & Hefley would give us a couple of more big bodies with energy which we sorely lack. I've been a season ticket holder for 12yrs. & I want to remain one so come on boys let's play some hockey.

Regan Bartel said...

I thought missed opportunities by the Rockets early in the first period really cost them. They could have been up 2-0 after the first period despite only eight shots on goal. I will admit the Hurricanes spent a lot of time inside the Rockets zone though.
Severson should be back two games prior to the Prospects Game, so things are looking up.

Jared Comeau said...

The only thing looking up is this team looking at the standings..........

MG said...

I hope they bench Bulmer and send a message. This is the second in a row that I thought he was doing nothing out there.

Maybe there is some poison in the dressing room that we aren't seeing but something is going on for sure.