Thursday, November 29, 2012

One goal win extends streak to nine

  • It is a sign of a good team when you don`t play well yet end up winning at the end of the night. The Kelowna Rockets didn`t have the same snap in their game Wednesday night against the Tri City Americans but still ended up winning 3-2. Dylen McKinlay, who hadn`t scored in nine games, beat Americans goaltender Eric Comrie between the legs for the game winner, as the Rockets won for the 16th time this season. It was the 20 year-olds third game winning goal of the season and now ties him for the team lead with Tyrell Goulbourne. Linemate Myles Bell scored twice in the win, his 49th and 50th goals of his major junior career.
  • Bell is now 4th in league scoring with 17+22=39. If you suggested Bell would have more goals that Portland`s Ty Rattie or the Blazers Tim Bozon, I`d suggested you were smoking something funny.  
  • The Rockets opening the scoring less than two minutes into the game, but the Americans found their game. Despite being out-shot at one point 7-2 and trailing 2-0, the Americans battled back with a power play goal and eventually tied the score heading into the first intermission. 
  • Americans goaltender Eric Comrie saw significantly less rubber than the last time these two teams met, but still made one spectacular save that will likely be considered for the WHL Plays of the Week. Comrie simply robbed Rockets captain Colton Sissons of a sure goal on a third period power play. The Rockets moved the puck around perfectly before Sissons was located at the right of Comrie on a one timer. The 17 year-old goaltender literally did the splits to keep the puck out and kept the score 3-2. 
  • The Americans just don`t take bad penalties and the Rockets did, specifically early in the game. Fortunately, the disciplined improved for the home team as the game wore on, but again, the Americans were allowed three chances in the first period and capitalized with Damon Severson in the box for tripping. 
  • The Rockets have now won 9 straight games on home ice and own a 10 and 2 record at Prospera Place this season. Only three teams, Spokane (12) Kamloops and Portland (11 wins) have more home ice wins that the Rockets do. 
  • Hard to imagine that the Rockets are just six home ice wins shy of equally their total number of wins last season. Yep, they won just 16 times in front of their home town crowd in 2011-2012.
  • After recording just 3+1=4 in his first 13 games, Tyson Baillie has 2+5=7 in his last eight games.
  • It marked only the third time this season the Rockets have been involved in a one goal game at home. The others were against Kamloops and Edmonton.
  • The Americans out-shot the Rockets, marking only the third time this season that has happened on home ice.   
  • The Rockets are now the second highest scoring team in the WHL with 106 goals scored, one better than the Kamloops Blazers. The Blazers have played two more games. Portland leads the league with 116 goals but have played one fewer game.

5 comments:

Jared Comeau said...

Filip Vasko traded to Red Deer. Any details Regan?

Unknown said...

Great interview with Dylan last night......we need to keep as one of the 20 yr olds.....he's very well spoken.
Hoping his desire to perform and win rubs of on the younger guys.

Regan Bartel said...

Glad you enjoyed it. Couldn`t agree with you more. Well spoken. In the business, we call it`good radio`. Tough not to have him as one of the three 20 year-old players.

Regan Bartel said...

Love Twitter. Haha. I don`t release anything Jared till the team does. That`s how I roll.

Jared Comeau said...

Fair enough Regan, shouldn't have even asked. My bad I apologize