Fastest To 40!

Is forward Jamie Benn the fastest ever to wear a Kelowna Rockets uniform?
I am not talking about fastest skater, but the fastest to 40 goals. Benn enters Wednesday's game against Chilliwack with 39 goals in 44 games. If he is able to score against the Bruins, he would become the fastest player in Rockets history to hit that mark. The current record is held by Brett McLean, who scored his 40th goal in his 51st game back in 1997-98. Jesse Schultz (2002--2003) and Jason Deleurme (1997-98) took 53 games to get there while Chuck Kobasew was also quick, scoring his 40th goal in his 54th game in 2001-2002.
By comparison Calgary Hitmen forward Joel Broda scored his 40th goal in his 50th game. Eric Fehr scored his 40th for the Brandon Wheat Kings in his 45th game in 2004-2005.
Nigel Dawes scored his 40th goal of the season in his 40th game back in 2003-2004. Wow!

Intensity for 20 Minutes Won't Cut It!

• Not even good teams can get away with playing urgent hockey for just one period. The Kelowna Rockets' learned that the hard way Monday afternoon in a 4-3 loss to the last place Portland Winter Hawks. The Rockets, trailing 3-0 early in the third, found a spark when forward Jamie Benn literally took matters into his own hands and almost single handily led the Rockets to a come-from-behind win. But the damage was just too great, as the Hawks won for just the 15th time this season.
• How much will the Rockets be kicking themselves if they indeed lose out to Spokane by a single point for third place in the Western Conference standings? Let's hope they don't have to look back at this game as the reason why they are unable to have the luxury of home ice advantage in round two.
• The Rockets have to be aware that they now have a target on them, much like Vancouver, Tri City and Spokane have had all season long. You can't take a night off as teams are bringing their best in an attempt to compete and knock you off your perch. The Giants face that every day. The Rockets are just realizing it now.
• Does it make the Rockets feel better that the Hawks have beaten Tri City three times and Spokane twice this season? Didn't think so!
• The Rockets generated 31 shots towards Hawks goaltender Kurtis Mucha through 40 minutes, but the majority were outside shots or one time chances. Secondary shots on goal were few and far between.
• The Rockets did hit a few posts, including a backhander from defenseman Tyson Barrie that grazed the post before deflecting into the corner. But as coach Huska often preaches, those breaks go in if you are working hard.
• Mark Guggenberger's return to Portland wasn't one he will write home about. Guggenberger, who started his career with the Hawks, was pulled after giving up 4 goals on 19 shots. Adam Brown came into the game in the third period with his team down 4-1 and made 3 saves the rest of the way as the Rockets poured on the pressure to send the game into overtime.
• Benn's hattrick was his third of the season. Benn also turned the trick against Lethbridge and Kamloops.
• Sure the Rockets were playing their third game in four night's, but to play essentially a non-playoff team in that third game and losing is hard to swallow. No, the Hawks are not officially eliminated from the playoff picture, but it will take a collapse by Prince George and miraculous play by the Hawks in order for them to compete in the second season in late March.
• Following Wednesday's home game against Chilliwack, I think we will get a better indication of the makeup of this Rockets team. Winning at home is one thing, digging deep and winning hockey games on the road is another animal. The Rockets open a six game road trip Friday.
• Not sure if you saw this article featuring Mikael Backlund and Riley Grantham. Hockey Futures Glen Erickson did a nice piece: www.hockeysfuture.com/articles/10947/backlund_and_grantham_fired_up_for_rockets_playoff_run/
  

Game Notes vs. Hawks

Tonight’s Preview: The Rockets and Hawks are meeting for the third of four times this season. The Rockets are 1-1-0-0, having lost 2-1 in Portland September 21st before beating the Hawks 5-4 in a shootout January 9th. The two teams conclude the seasonal series March 11th in Kelowna. The Rockets enter tonight’s game riding a season high 6 game winning streak after a 5-1 win over Prince George Saturday night. The Rockets have out-scored the opponent 23-7 over that period. In the big picture the Rockets have points in eleven straight (9-0-1-1). The last regulation loss was a 6-4 setback to Vancouver January 21st. Tonight’s game is the third of 7 games in 10 nights. The Rockets host Chilliwack Wednesday before opening a six game road trip Friday night with a stop in Vancouver before games against Everett, Chilliwack, Medicine Hat, Red Deer and Calgary.

Last Game: Mikael Backlund scored twice and added an assist leading the Kelowna Rockets to a 5-1 win over the Prince George Cougars Saturday night. Ian Duval (1+1=2), Cody Almond (0+2=2), Lucas Bloodoff (1+1=2), Tysen Dowzak (0+2=2) and Stepan Novotny (0=2=2) all had multiple point games. The Rockets out-shot the Cougars 35-26 and were 0/4 on the power play. The Cougars were silenced on 5 chances

Hawk Connection: Mark Guggenberger returns to the place where his Western Hockey League career began. Guggenberger played three games with the Hawks last season, posting a record of 1-2-0-0. Guggenberger’s lone win came against the Saskatoon Blades October 23rd. Guggenberger would eventually be traded to the Swift Current Broncos, where he would earn his first win with his new team, oddly enough, against the Kelowna Rockets January 25/08. Rockets assistant coach Jeff Finley played his junior hockey with the Hawks from 1983 until 1987. Finley played a total of 216 games with the Hawks, racking up 66 points in his final season in 86-87.

Best of the West Poll Announced: The Tri City Herald’s Best of the West Poll was released this weekend and three Rockets were recognized. Jamie Benn was rated as having the best shot, and the most accurate. Riley Grantham was rated as the toughest player in the conference. Tyler Myers was rated as the best stay-at-home defenseman.

Very Interesting! Mark Guggenberger has won four straight, and has earned points in 9 straight appearances. The Rockets are 20-2-0-0 when Colin Long scores…The Rockets 24 home ice wins this season is three better than the teams 21 home ice victories one season ago…Goaltender Mark Guggenberger has started 9 of the last 12 games.…Tyson Barrie has set a new career high in point with 48, bettering his 43 point effort in his rookie season…The Rockets won their 30th game of the season February 3rd in Kamloops. It marked the 14th time in franchise history that the Rockets have enjoyed a 30+ win season. The Rockets last failed to win 30 games during the 2006-2007 campaign, when the team won just 22 times…The Rockets have just 15 games left in the regular season. Ten of those 15 are on the road. The Rockets have out-shot the opposition in 13 of the 15 games since the trade deadline. Only Tri City and Vancouver (twice) have out-shot the Rockets since the trade deadline…The Rockets power play is 16 for 54 in their last nine games (29.6%). The Rockets have scored two or more power play goals in six of their last eleven games. The Rockets are 9-3-1-2 in fifteen games since the trade deadline…Mitchell Callahan has 12 fighting majors this season as 17 year-old. Teammate Curt Gogol – also 17 – has 8.

New Faces Contribute: Mikael Backlund has 7+9=16 in his first fifteen games. Ian Duval has 6+8=14 in his first elven games with the Rockets. Riley Grantham has 1+4=5 in his first 14 games, including two fighting majors. Goaltender Mark Guggenberger is 8-2-1-1 with the Rockets, with wins over Kamloops (twice), Vancouver, Everett, Spokane, Medicine Hat, Prince George and Tri City.

Bennie And The Jets: Jamie Benn has eleven goals in his last eleven games, and has goals in six of his last nine. Benn is the first Rockets player to register back-to-back 30 goal seasons since Justin Keller had 31 goals in 2004-2005 and scored 51 times in 2005-2006. Benn has fourteen points in his last nine games (9+5=14), and points in eight of his last twelve games. Benn has 129 career points in just 94 games (1.37 points per game).

Rockets Extend Winning Streak To Season High 6 Games

• If the Prince George Cougars were expecting roses from the Kelowna Rockets Saturday night to celebrate Valentines Day, they ended up with a bouquet of thorns. The Rockets scored three times in the first period, cruising to a 5-1 win over the visitors.
• The win extended the Rockets winning streak to 6 games. The Rockets have out-scored the opposition 23-7 over that period. When was the last time the Rockets won 6 in a row? The Rockets won 7 straight from December 31st to January 12th of last season before losing 5-3 to the Kamloops Blazers.
• After an emotional win Friday night over the Giants, an emotional letdown was hard to avoid. Give the Rockets credit for the effort though with Mikael Backlund scoring twice in the win. Backlund's line of Cody Almond and Ian Duval were quiet in Friday's victory but came alive in the teams 35th win of the season. Backlund and Duval were a +3 while Almond was a +1.
• Curt Gogol again had a solid game for the Rockets. A huge hit and a solid fight against Cougars defenseman Art Bidlevski has you liking this player more and more every game. In some respects its a shame he wasn't given a star in last night's win. The three stars shouldn't be all about points, but the dynamic you bring in leading your team to victory.
• That said, was it a case of mistaken identity when Evan Bloodoff came onto the ice to accept the 2nd star? Luke Bloodoff had a goal and an assist, yet his younger brother skated away with the accolades.
• Adam Brown got a rare start and took advantage of the situation. With Mark Guggenberger getting the night off, Brown was sharp in his appearance, recording his 15th win of the season. It's those big stops early in the game when it's scoreless or your up by just a single goal that make a huge difference in the outcome of a game.
• The Rockets have not allowed a power play goal in six straight games. The Rockets are 31 for 31 in kills over that period. The last power play goal given up by the Rockets was to Seattle's Jonathan Parker in a 2-1 overtime loss January 31st.
• What's going on with Tysen Dowzak? A two point effort - two assists - was a pleasant surprise. Again solid in his own zone, Dowzak has put together back-to-back solid games on the Rockets defensive core. Dowzak had a two assist effort against Medicine Hat January 30th.
• Here is a video interview I had with Rockets forward Colin Long before Saturday's game. One questions revolves around the comment I made about Long showing up in the 'big game'. That statement was formed in the way of question if anyone was second guessing his abilities against elite teams. This isn't my belief, as I've seen him pull this team out of the fire many a time prior to his heroics in wins over Spokane and Vancouver.

A 'Giant' Win!

• The Kelowna Rockets' 3-2 overtime win against the Vancouver Giants Friday was huge boost for the team mentally. It won't make or break either teams seasons, but it does send the message that the Rockets are for real. They likely believed it prior to Friday's result, but now proved it to the league and to those fans that still doubt this team.
• Jamie Benn's 'hit to hurt' philosophy saw Giants defenseman Jon Blum leave the game early in the first period with what could be a shoulder injury. Benn hit Blum with two solid shoulder to shoulder hits that send Blum gingerly making his way off the ice. Taking out the Giants top defenseman early in the game surely didn't hurt the home teams cause. Benn was a force physically and then went on to score once and set up two others. Was he named the games first star? Yep!
• Giants head coach Don Hay won't like the way the overtime goal was scored by Rockets captain Colin Long. Long took the puck behind the net, worked off a check in the corner and was allowed to find a shooting lane at the left of goaltender Tyson Sexsmith. Untouched, Long roofed the winner glovehand side. Why Long - who is the Rockets leading point getter - was allowed so much time and space to get the shot off would have had Hay fuming after the game.
• Tyson Sexsmith was very good in this one. While the veteran goaltender didn't face as much rubber as his counterpart at the other end, I thought the Rockets generated more 'dangerous' scoring chances. Sexsmith made some terffic saves, including a denial of Kyle St. Denis on a breakaway and Jamie Benn on a great glove hand save.
• Here is an interview I had with Sexsmith before the game. Sexsmith is a well spoken, class kid. www.am1150.ca/player/player?mediapath=&type=mp3&fi=files%2Fam1150%2Fsrimedia%2FR09_1344.MP3&nid=876232
• Mark Guggenberger proved Friday night that he's the real deal. Guggenberger made some solid saves, only solidifying his position as the Rockets number one goaltender. Guggenberger had no chance on the Giants second period goal from Casey Pierro-Zabotel and lost a one-on-one battle on a clear cut breakaway from Evander Kane in the 3rd period. He was a pleasure to have on our post-game show after the game as he played to the crowd at Manhattan Point. One word...refreshing.
• Unlike what has been the theme in the seasonal series between these two teams, the Rockets were the better team in the third period. The Rockets out-shot the Giants 12-6, yet the home team needed a Jamie Benn goal with 5 minutes left in regulation to tie the game at two.
• Despite trailing 2-1 late in the third, the Rockets depth offensively has to give you a feeling that this team is never out of it, even when the chips are down.
• I liked the Rockets defensive effort in this one. Tyler Myers chipped in with two assists and saw much of the game against the Giants top line of Pierro-Zabotel, Kane and Craig Cunningham. Tysen Dowzak was also solid. Sure his loss of the puck at the Giants blue-line created the breakaway chance goal from Evander Kane in the third period, but Dowzak was physical, got into shooting lanes, and played the way an overage defender has to play in a game of this magnitude.
• The penalty kill...tremendous for the Rockets. To hold the Giants off the board in 6 power play chances is impressive. This penalty killing unit doesn't grab the headlines like the teams power play does, but shutting out the second best power play unit in the league is no small feat.
• The Rockets had much to lose in this game against the Giants. Had the Rockets been on the losing end, fans both locally and across the league would have been saying that the team didn't do enough at the trade deadline to legitimately challenge the Giants in the Western Conference. Did the Rockets answer their critics? I hope they take the attitude of - who cares. All they have to know is that if they play a solid game, they are as good as the team that has a 27 point lead on them in the Western Conference standings. Could the Rockets beat the Giants in a seven game playoff series? Let the debate begin.

Game Notes vs. Giants

Tonight’s Preview: The Rockets and Giants are meeting for the 6th time this season. The Rockets are 0-5-0-0 against the Giants this season, having been out-scored 24-11. Following tonight’s game these two teams meet February 20th in Vancouver before concluding the eight game seasonal series March 7th in Kelowna. The Giants have out-shot the Rockets in four of the five games. The exception was November 12th in a Giants 3-1 win. The Rockets out-shot the visitors 37-24. The Giants have also scored two or more power play goals in four of the five games. The Rockets are 6 for 25=24% with the extra man while the Giants are 11 for 34=32.4%. Following tonight’s game the Rockets host Prince George tomorrow night before traveling to Portland for a Monday afternoon affair. The Rockets enter a portion of their schedule playing ten games in the next 15 nights. The Rockets have points in 9 (7-0-1-1) straight games, with their last regulation loss January 21st in a 6-4 setback to the Giants.
Seasonal Series Breakdown:
Period: 1 2 3 Total
Rockets 4 2 5 11
Giants 6 4 14 24
* Tyson Sexsmith has started in all five games against the Rockets this season. Adam Brown has played in three of the five games while Mark Guggenberger and Kris Lazaruk have also played a game against the Giants this season.

Last Game: Colin Long scored twice, once on the power and once shorthanded in a 2-1 win in Spokane Sunday. The two teams were tied at one heading into the third period before Long scored the game winner with the extra man at the 7:18 mark in the 3rd frame. The Rockets out-shot the Chiefs 31-25. The Rockets were 1/3 on the power play while the Chiefs were 0 for 3.

Very Interesting! The Rockets are 19-2-0-0 when Colin Long scores…Long registered his 200th and 201st career points in Sunday’s win. Who was the last Rockets player to hit the 200 point plateau? Tyler Mosienko. Mosienko had 232 points in five seasons, including 51 points in 72 games in 2004-2005…The Rockets clinched a playoff spot thanks to the Giants win over Chilliwack Wednesday night. It’s the 17th time in the Rockets 18 years that they earned a playoff spot…The Rockets 22 home ice wins this season is one better than the teams 21 home ice victories one season ago…Goaltender Mark Guggenberger has started 8 of the last 10 games.…Tyson Barrie has set a new career high in point with 47, bettering his 43 point effort in his rookie season…The Rockets won their 30th game of the season last Tuesday night in Kamloops. It marked the 14th time in franchise history that the Rockets have enjoyed a 30+ win season. The Rockets last failed to win 30 games during the 2006-2007 campaign, when the team won just 22 times…The Rockets have just 17 games left in the regular season. Eleven of those 17 are on the road. The Rockets have out-shot the opposition in 12 of the 13 games since the trade deadline. The Rockets are averaging 42 shots per game over that period while giving up 25 fewer shots a game, or 16.7 per game. Only Tri City and Vancouver have out-shot the Rockets since the trade deadline…The Rockets power play is 15 for 42 in their last eight games (35.7%). The Rockets have scored two or more power play goals in six of their last nine games. The Rockets are 7-3-1-2 in thirteen games since the trade deadline.

New Faces Contribute: Mikael Backlund has 5+8=13 in his first thirteen games. Ian Duval has 5+7=12 in his first nine games with the Rockets. Riley Grantham has 0+4=4 in his first 12 games, including two fighting majors. Goaltender Mark Guggenberger is 7-2-1-1 with the Rockets, with wins over Kamloops (twice), Everett, Spokane, Medicine Hat, Prince George and Tri City.

Bennie And The Jets: Jamie Benn has ten goals in his last nine games, and has goals in five of his last seven. Benn is the first Rockets player to register back-to-back 30 goal seasons since Justin Keller had 31 goals in 2004-2005 and scored 51 times in 2005-2006. Benn has eleven points in his last seven games (8+3=11), and points in seven of his last ten games. Benn has 126 career points in just 92 games.

Who’s Hot: Colin Long has seven goals in his last nine games. Long has points in 8 of his last 9 games with 7+6=13 over that period. Stepan Novotny has 3+3=6 in his last seven games. Ian Duval has goals in eight of his last twelve games. Brandon McMillan has 5+10=15 in his last 19 games. Tyler Myers has points in six of his last nine games (1+7=8). Lucas Bloodoff has not scored in 15 games. Prior to the drought the 19 year-old had six goals in four games.

By The Numbers: Since re-locating to Kelowna from Tacoma for the start of the 1995-96 season, the Rockets have played 991 regular season games. The Rockets have won 503 times while based in Kelowna.

Broadcaster Tidbits: The Rockets have scored 6 or more goals – ten times this season. The Rockets have managed to score 6 or more goals three times against the Cougars, twice against Kamloops, with single game outbursts against Medicine Hat, Kootenay, Everett, Chilliwack and Seattle. Last season the Rockets scored 6 or more goals 12 times… The Rockets are 29-6-0-1 when they score 3 or more goals. The Rockets are 10-10-0-2 in games where they’ve allowed 3 or more goals.

Rockets Playoff Bound

If you missed it, the Rockets are playoff bound thanks to the Vancouver Giants. The Giants 2-1 win over Chilliwack last night officially clinched a playoff spot for the Rockets. It's the 17th time in the teams 18 year history that the Rockets have earned a playoff spot.

Things That Make Me Go Hmm...

• The Calgary Flames are keeping a close eye on prospect Mikael Backlund. Flames Director of Player Development Duane Sutter attended Sunday's game in Spokane. Sutter also had a chance to see the development of two other Flames prospects in that game, Riley Grantham and Spokane Chiefs forward Mitch Wahl.
• I did some number crunching and found out that the Rockets are 19-2-0-0 when captain Colin Long scores.
• Long registered his 200th and 201st career point in Sunday's win in Spokane.
• Count your blessings. Sure the Rockets spent the majority of the season without Kyle St. Denis, but was it not better for him to miss the first half of the season than the last half? Look at Lance Bouma in Vancouver, Scott Glennie in Brandon and Jared Cowan in Spokane, all three going down with significant injuries with the playoffs just 5 weeks away. I'll take the timing of St. Denis' injury any day opposed to having a key player out when the real season starts in late March.
• I ran into Kevin Muench Sunday in Spokane. The WHL's Director of Officiating was making the rounds out West, which included a stop in Cranbrook Saturday night.
• How can the Regina Pats be on the verge of missing the playoffs? With that talented lineup, something just doesn't add up.
• It's nice to see Brady Calla doing well in Spokane. The Kelowna resident has 6+6=12 in 13 games since he was acquired from Kamloops at the trade deadline. My general belief is Calla is in a 'happy place' mentally, and the offensive production is a direct result of that.
• Rockets alumnus Kristopher Westblom is playing with the Acadia Axeman this season. Westblom is 7-7-0-1 with a 2.95 goals against average and a .881 save percentage.
• On your mark...get set....go!! Starting Friday, the Rockets will enter a stretch of games which has them playing ten games in 15 nights. Ouch!
• The line of Curt Gogol, Spencer Main and Mitchell Callahan are providing the Rockets with some solid minutes. Do we call them the GMC line? Or how about the pickup line?
• Here is a video interview I had with Rockets forward Curt Gogol last week:
  

Very Cool Cause

The Kelowna Rockets and the Kelowna Community Food Bank present “Stuff The Food Bank Truck.”
This weekend while the Rockets host the Vancouver Giants and Prince George Cougars at Prospera Place, the Kelowna Community Food Bank’s one ton truck will be parked just outside the front gate.
The Rockets are encouraging fans to bring a non-perishable food item to “Stuff TheTruck.” Each year the Kelowna Community Food Bank helps over 30,000 people and over 10,000 children. February is traditionally a difficult month for the Food Bank’s supplies and any help is greatly appreciated.Kelowna Rockets’ Director of Marketing Anne-Marie Hamilton states, “We are honoured to partner with the Food Bank for this initiative.
This promotion is an extension of our family skate program in which we ask fans to bring a non-perishable food item for admissionto the skate which we in turn donated to the Food Bank.”

Truitt Let Go!

I was honestly surprised at the news that the Springfield Falcons have fired Jeff Truitt. Sure the Falcons were in last place in the Atlantic Division, but as an outside observer, he was given little time to prove himself at the pro level. I guess with a quality candidate like Rob Daum waiting in the wings, it was easy for the Oilers to pull the trigger.
The firing of Truitt hits home for me personally because of my relationship with the Rosetown Saskatchewan resident. We became quit close in the time he spent in Kelowna, not only as the Rockets assistant coach, but the head skipper when the team won a WHL title in 2005. I know the coaching racket is a volatile one, but seeing a friend axed is never a fun day even if you are not directly involved. I hope to talk to Jeff today and may post some comments if he is willing to go on record.

I spoke to Marc Habscheid about Truitt's dismissal:

"Jeff is a real good friend of mine, and I feel bad for him. We coached a long time together. I not only feel bad for him but his family because they have to pick up and move again, and that's always difficult. He's a strong guy, he's a character guy, it's a rough period but he'll be ok and he will work his way through it."

Current Rockets head coach Ryan Huska had this to say about a colleague of his:

"I think any time a coach gets let go you automatically look at your situation and put yourself in his shoes. I was fortunate enough to work with Jeff for three years here and it's difficulty when you hear someone like him being let go. I think more difficult probably because you think about him moving on and you are forcing your family to move to a different location and all of a sudden you have to move again. I think that's the toughest part."

Here is the Falcons press release:

The Springfield Falcons fired first-year coach Jeff Truitt Tuesday.
The Falcons (16-27-6-1), who lost three straight home games this weekend, are in last place in the Atlantic Division, and have lost seven straight overall.
Truitt will be replaced by former Edmonton Oilers assistant Rob Daum, a scout within the organization.
Daum will be with the Falcons in time for their game at Manchester Wednesday night.

Pic's From Spokane

This is what every junior team strives for...a Memorial Cup ring. I want to thank hand model - Chiefs Director of Public Relations Jay Stewart - for letting me take a photo of his 'bling-bling'.

This banner is just outside the Chiefs dressing room. Hey if you got it, flaunt it.

A video of the best rink in the league - the Spokane Arena. Why does the state of Washington have three of the nicest facilities in the league? And no...The Tri City Toyota Center is not one of the three.

Rockets Dressing Room In Spokane

Getting Greedy With 6 Point Weekend

• Text book. That would best describe the Kelowna Rockets effort Sunday night in Spokane. The Rockets played a smart road game and were rewarded with a 2-1 win. The Rockets could have gambled and created more chances in the offensive zone, yet that tactic would have made them more vulnerable in odd man rushes the other way. Considering this was the Rockets third game in three nights, the one goal victory was impressive.
• Cody Almond’s name won’t end up on the score sheet at the end of the night, yet his contribution at the face-off circle with the game on the line and the Chiefs goaltender pulled for the extra attacker was HUGE. Almond won three consecutive key face-offs in his own zone, again punctuating the point of the value he brings to this team.
• The Chiefs came close to tying the game on a goal mouth scramble that saw the Rockets net come off its supports. From my vantage point the goal mouth scramble had goaltender Mark Guggenberger fall on his back hitting the post and knocking it out of place. Guggenberger is such a big body, that when the giant falls, everything tends to get pushed aside in his wake.
• Was the Rockets win Sunday night a statement game? The Rockets may not suggest that, but I believe it was. It was just one game, but the victory against a top end team shows that they can compete against the elite. Many won’t be convinced until they beat Vancouver. Good enough then! The two teams collide Friday night.
• Colin Long is a big time player. If you questioned his ability in the big game, what he did Sunday night was impressive. Long’s shorthanded goal to open the scoring saw him strip the puck from the Spokane defenseman and move in all alone on a clear cut breakaway from center ice. Long waited for his opening before snapping the puck – five hole – past Chiefs goaltender Dustin Tokarski.
• Long’s power play goal was the result of a good read by defenseman Tyson Barrie. Barrie took the puck off the left boards, rotated towards the front of the net, but rather than shoot, found Long on the backdoor for the 2-1 lead. It was Long’s 15th power play goal of the season, two shy of league leader Keegan Dansereau.
• Long had 14 power play goals all of last season.
• The Rockets moved within two points of the Chiefs with the win. Spokane has two games in hand.
• I am starting too really like Mark Guggenberger, and it has nothing to do with the posting his mother made on this blog. Guggenberger is so quick down low, and has the luxury of playing so deep into his net because of his size. Guggenberger has allowed just one goal per game in 5 of his last 6 starts.
• Those that were calling for Ryan Huska’s head a few weeks ago please stand up! It may be tough to get to your feet though, with all of that egg on your face. All joking aside, I couldn't buy into the theory that the players weren't playing for the personable coach.