First regulation loss of 2013

• Thankfully, the Kelowna Rockets have had very few nights where the coaches would say, “It was just one of those nights.” Wednesday night at the Spokane Arena, it was a night to forget for the Rockets who looked out of sorts in a 5-0 loss. The BC Division leaders looked lackadaisical, uninspired and almost like their minds were elsewhere in their 11^th loss of the season.  The Spokane Chiefs were likely patting themselves on the back and giving each other high fives after the game, but honestly the visitors were just really bad.
• I didn’t watch warm up, but I noticed on the first shift that this could be a long night for the Rockets. Collectively, passes weren’t crisp, the timing was off and the Chiefs were beating them to every loose puck. It looked as if the Rockets had bussed in just prior to game time.  Sadly the Rockets arrived well in advance of Wednesday’s game and should have been reasonably rested for the fourth and final meeting of the season between the two teams.  
• When the Chiefs scored the first two goals of the game just 1:22 apart, Rockets head coach Ryan Huska called a time out to awaken the troops. After an opening period that saw his team down 3-0 and out-shot 16-10, Huska pulled starter Jordon Cooke for back up Jackson Whistle. Whistle allowed two goals the remainder of the way.
• Cooke wasn’t pulled for poor play. In fact, Cooke was the main reason to score wasn’t 5-0 or 6-0 at the 20 minute break.  The 19 year-olds best save came on a grade A scoring chance against Mitch Holmberg who was the trailer on a three on two. Holmberg attempted to go high on Cooke, who made a solid save to keep the score remotely respectable. 
• Were the Rockets looking ahead to Friday’s match up against Portland and not focusing on Wednesday’s opponent? It sure looked like it.
• While some would suggest nothing was lost because the Winterhawks also lost Wednesday night should reconsider that theory. If in fact the Rockets beat the Hawks twice this weekend, Kelowna would be in sole possession of first place, a point up on Portland. Now the best they can do is be a single point back.
• The Rockets have only been shut out twice this season. Once too Spokane and once by Portland.
• Two point streaks came to an end Wednesday night. Colton Sissons had his 11 game point streak snapped while Damon Severson failed to reach the score sheet after appearing there in six consecutive games.
• It was the Rockets first regulation loss in 20 games. The Rockets were 17-0-2-0 before losing Wednesday night. The teams’ last regulation loss prior to Wednesday was December 16^th in a 6-2 setback in Calgary.