Quick Thoughts on Game 3

• Seattle played their best game of the series. T-Birds head coach Rob Sumner - in a pre-game interview - wanted to see his team "play", and play they did with the opening goal just 31 seconds into the first period.
• Sumner snapped at the officials early after a non-call on a collision in the neutral zone. Sumner had some choice words, which saw him pick up a two minute bench minor. While some would consider that a bad penalty to take, it showed me and likely the T-Bird players that the coach was fired up for this one. Sumner is often mild mannered, but like any good coach, gets fired up if he see's his team getting the short end of the stick.
• The T-Birds were much more dangerous offensively in this one. Territorial play favored the visitors who did a better job of winning battles to loose pucks. While T-Birds leading scorer Bud Holloway has failed to break out in this series, it was his best game.
• A lead in this series just isn't safe. The T-Birds have realized that first hand, opening up the scoring in all three games. Give the Rockets credit for battling back, and getting a big power play goal early in the third period from Jamie Benn to make it a 2-2 game.
• The overtime was all Seattle. The T-Birds took the play to the Rockets, out-shooting them 14-4. While the Rockets were limited to few chances, Jamie Benn had an opportunity to end it with a quality shot on Seattle goaltender Jacob DeSerres. http://www.am1150.ca/player/player?mediapath=&type=mp3&fi=files%2Fam1150%2Fsrimedia%2FR09_0454.MP3&nid=688606&
• The game winner came off a failed clearing attempt by the Rockets. David Richard did all the work himself in scoring the game winning-hattrick goal. http://www.am1150.ca/player/player?mediapath=&type=mp3&fi=files%2Fam1150%2Fsrimedia%2FR09_0453.MP3&nid=688607&
• Is Thomas Hickey not the best 18 just turned 19 year-old defenseman in the Western Conference? The LA Kings didn't miss when drafting this guy.
• The Rockets didn't have their 'A' game Monday night, but still managed to send the game into overtime.