'Bull' becomes public enemy number 1

• His teammates call him 'Bull'. Unfortunately Saturday night in game two of the Kelowna Rockets opening round series with the Portland Winterhawks, leading goal scorer Brett Bulmer was a raging bull. The 19 year-old was assessed a five minute major for kneeing in the third period in the Rockets 4-0 shutout loss. Bulmer, who is of more value to his team on the ice than off it, was given two unsportsmanlike penalties, two kneeing penalties plus a 5 minute major for kneeing and a game misconduct. I am all for playing with emotion, but keeping it dialed in is pivotal at this time of the year.

• If a player receives one kneeing penalty, I usually give him the benefit of the doubt. Sometimes knee on knee collisions happen. When you are assessed three in game, you can't but look at it as dirty play. I know if Hawks forward Brad Ross was doing it, I'd be saying it. In fact, I did say it last season when Ross hit Franko in the opening game of the second round. It was a dirty hit and knocked out Franko for the remainder of the series. Fact is, emotions run high and sometimes logical thinking is thrown out the window.
  
• While I don't condone Bulmer's actions, it sure would have been nice to see more of his teammates play with more bite. The Rockets were an easy team to play against Saturday night and the Hawks dominated play. Portland didn't only carry the territorial play, but they had possession of the puck about 80 percent of the time. Chasing the puck was common place for the visitors and creating any real quality scoring chances didn't happen until late in the third period, when down 4-0, Zach Franko and Shane McColgan had good chances on goal. Hawks goaltender Mac Carruth had an easy night in recording the shutout.
  
• As badly as the Rockets were out-played in game two, Adam Brown gave his team a chance. We were scoreless after 20 minutes despite the Hawks directing 20 shots on net. Brown looked even more composed than he was in game one and didn't overplay pucks. Goaltending is not the issue in this series, nor will it be.
• Rockets captain Colton Sissons hardly played Saturday night after being struck with the flu. I knew something was wrong when he saw little ice time and his battle level was at an all time low. When Sissons is healthy, he is always one of the Rockets hardest workers.
  
• Best player in the series so far? Easy. It is Sven Bartschi. Wow. If you haven't seen this 19 year-old play this season, check him out when the Hawks are in Kelowna Tuesday and Thursday. Bartschi could be the best player in the WHL. Tri City Americans fans may argue, but the Swiss forward can skate, looks strong on the puck and plays with a little bit of bite. Bartschi gets mad when he is hit and will let the opponent know that he is irritated about it. As Andy Kemper pointed out on his blog, http:afterthewhistle.wordpress.com, Bartschi has been in on five of the Hawks ten goals in the series.
  
• The Rockets have been out-scored 10-3 in the first two games.
• Shane McColgan had his 11 game point streak in the playoffs snapped Saturday night. McColgan's point streak dated back to last season.
  
• While the Rockets lost both games in Portland on the weekend, not all is doom and gloom with the next two games at Prospera Place. Back in 2010, the Rockets lost games one and two in Everett before winning both games in Kelowna. In fact, in that series the home team won six of the seven games.