Quick Thoughts Before Game Five

• Call me crazy, but I still believe the Rockets are in a good position heading into game five tonight. Sure it's down to a best of three, and the Rockets have lost the last two games, but a win tonight has them headed home for a chance to wrap it up in game six Saturday night. While the T-Birds have won the last two games, my general feeling is neither team has the momentum heading into game five tonight. Why would the Rockets not be confident, after great efforts in games one and two at the Key Arena?
• It was suggested in the comments section that Ryan Huska called out the top line of Long, Benn and Leavold. I may have missed something there, but I didn't interpret his comments after game three that way. Huska thought that line was not at it's best in game three, nor was the goaltending. The numbers clearly point to Long, Benn and Leavold producing in this series, no question. I too would like to see more secondary scoring, which means Cody Almond and Lucas Bloodoff need to make an impact in game five. Both have goals in this series, but when you score over 15 goals during the regular season, you are required to do more than produce occasionally. As for Long, Benn and Leavold, that top line has outplayed the T-Birds number one unit.
• Is it just me or have the Rockets been the better team 5 on 5 in this series?
• Two players that have stood out for me in this series for the Rockets is Kyle St. Denis and Evan Bloodoff. Both are blessed with an abundance of speed, and have caused headaches for the T-Birds throughout this series. Again these two dynamos are just 17 years old. These two are going to be difference makers at 19. Even today they are making significant contributions to the betterment of the team.
• I am not as critical as some over the Rockets defensive core. The top four - Schenn, Myers, Dowzak and Barrie are logging a lot of ice time against two extremely strong skating lines. Joe and Bowman are being inserted sporadically in an attempt to give the top four d-men a break. I think Schenn and Dowzak have been extremely physical in this series, and Barrie and Myers - two players that are 16 and 18 respectively - have played well considering their lack of playoff experience. Shouldn't the T-Birds be better on the back end? Two of their top four are overagers in Scott Jackson and Benn Olson. The Birds other top two d-men, Thomas Hickey and Sena Acolatse are the equivalent to the Rockets Luke Schenn and Tyson Barrie. That said, Hickey and Acolatse are both a year older. In an ideal world the Rockets needed to bring in a veteran body back on the blue line at the trade deadline. Failing to make that move, has the Rockets icing a top four defensive core with an average age of 18. The T-Birds top four have an average age of 19.3. That 1.3 year difference may seem small, but it's a significant difference.
• Whoever the officiating crew is for game five, for the love of God, let them play. This has not been a dirty series, yet both teams have been extremely physical. I am not a fan of an abundance of power plays, yet both teams have used those chances to change the complexion of the game. Penalties are part of the game, but if you are going to whistle down the play, make sure it's a no-brainer.
• I had a chance to check out the ice surface at the Key Arena for game five. The ice at the time was covered with plywood, after the NBA's Seattle Supersonics played a home game there Wednesday night. The ice is never good in that building, yet does is not benefit the Rockets in this series? When you are playing a physical, grinding the opponent down series, I can't see how that can hurt the Rockets chances.
• I will have some help with me on tonight's broadcast. Portland Winter Hawks play-by-play man Andy Kemper has agreed to join me for tonight's show. Andy will be a welcome addition considering I'm battling a cold.