Rockets vs. Blazers

Alex Swetlikoff - Shoot the Breeze Photo

Game Day Preview: The Kelowna Rockets face the Kamloops Blazers for the 7^th time this season. The Rockets are 2-3-1-0 in the opening six games. Four of the six games have been decided by a single goal and two of the games have been decided in overtime, with both teams winning once. Overall, the Rockets have been out-scored 16-11. Leif Mattson, Kyle Topping and Nolan Foote lead the way offensively with five points apiece in the seasonal series. Mattson leads the team in goals with three. Roman Basran has played in four of the six games, posting a goals against average of 2.25 and a save percentage of .924. The Rockets are coming off a 4-3 win last night over the Prince George Cougars. Nolan Foote scored twice in the victory while Cayde Augustine and Mark Liwiski also found the back of the net. Following tonight’s game, the Rockets host Everett Friday before hosting Vancouver a week from tonight. Overall, the Rockets are 6-9-2-1 in 18 games since the Christmas break. The Rockets are 18-16-4-1 in 39 games under head coach Adam Foote. 

Who’s Hot:.Kyle Topping has 3+8=11 in his last 9 games…Nolan Foote has 7+3=10 in his last 9 games….Lassi Thomson has 4+1=5 in his last 10 games…The Rockets penalty killing unit is 45 for 55 in their last 13 road games…The Rockets have points in 14 of their last 19 home games (11-5-3-0).

Broadcasters Notebook: The Rockets have played in seven straight one goal games at home…Nineteen year-old forward Connor Bruggen-Cate is back in the line-up tonight after serving a two game suspension for ‘actions in game’ against the Kamloops Blazers last Saturday….The Rockets have 15 games left in the regular season. Of those 15, 11 are against teams in the BC Division…The team will play three games in three nights March 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd…The team has been out-shot in 13 of the last 17 games…The Rockets are 5-9-1-0 in 15 games against a US Division team this season. Three of the five wins have come against Tri City with a single victory over Everett and Seattle…The team plays 5 more games against US Division rivals with two games against Spokane and Portland and a single against Everett.…The Rockets have played 18-one goal games at home this season. Last year they played 15-one goal games at Prospera Place…The team has played in nine-one goal games on the road…The Rockets are 9-12-2-1 against BC Division teams this season…Five members of the Kelowna Rockets have made NHL Central Scouting’s latest rankings. Lassi Thomson is rated 14^th, Nolan Foote is ranked 26^th and Kaedan Korczak is 31^st. Kyle Topping is 195th while Alex Swetlikoff is 217^th, Among goalies, Roman Basran is 11^th among North American netminders…..Adam Foote was officially named the new head coach of the Kelowna Rockets on October 23, 2018 replacing Jason Smith.,,The Rockets are 8-11-1-0 when playing the second game of back-to-backs….The team acquired 20 year-old Shael Higson from the Brandon Wheat Kings for 20 year-old Braydyn Chizen and a 5^th round bantam pick. The team then claimed 20 year-old defenceman Matt Barberis off waivers from the Vancouver Giants. To make room for Barberis, the team released overage forward Lane Zablocki, who is now with the BCHL’s Vernon Vipers.

Season Highs/Lows:

Most goals scored: 8 @ Victoria October 19/18 (8-2 W)

Most goals allowed: 9 vs. Seattle October 10^th, 2018 (9-6 L)

Most shots on net: 45 @ Seattle October 6th, 2018 (4-1 L).

Fewest shots on net: 13 @ Edmonton November 17, 2018 (3-1 L)

Most shots allowed: 50 @ Portland November 10, 2018 (3-0 L)

Fewest shots allowed: 16 vs. Victoria December 7, 2018 (2-0 win)

Last time shut out at home: October 3rd, 2018 vs. Vancouver (5-0 L)  

Last time shut out on road: February 1, 2019 @ Spokane (4-0 L)

Last shutout at home: December 7, 2018 vs. Victoria (2-0 W - Roman Basran 16 saves)

Last shutout on the road: January 18, 2019 @ Everett (2-0 W – James Porter 40 saves)

Most power play goals allowed: 4 vs. Seattle October 10^th, 2018 (9-6 L). T-Birds were 4/5 on power play.

Most power play goals scored: 4 @ Victoria October 19, 2018 (8-2 W)

Overtime Games (7): vs. Kamloops (2-1 W) February 2, 2019, vs. Seattle (3-2 Loss) January 30, 2019, @ Kamloops (3-2 Loss) December 28, 2018, vs. Saskatoon (5-4 Loss) December 1, 2018, @ Tri City Nov 30, 2018 (3-2 win), @ PG (4-3 Loss) November 14, 2018, vs. PG (4-3 win) October 27, 2018.   

Game Notes Compiled by Regan Bartel of AM 1150