3-0 = worst lead in hockey?

Libor Zabransky - Shoot the Breeze Photography

• Is 3-0 the worst lead in hockey? You won’t get an argument from the Kelowna Rockets. Goals from defencemen Cal Foote, Libor Zabransky and James Hilsendager helped the home team to a 3-0 lead, only to watch the Everett Silvertips storm back with four unanswered goals in a 4-3 shootout loss. In my opinion, the 3-0 lead was somewhat deceiving. The Tips created several quality scoring chances despite generating only 14 shots on goal through the opening 40 minutes. Had Rockets goaltender Brodan Salmond been average in the opening frame, the score could have been much closer than 2-0. The Tips looked like a team that was up 3-0, not down 3-cob. Playing with urgency, Riley Sutter’s seeing-eye wrist shot with 2:11 to play in regulation time propelled the Tips to a much deserved point. In the end, 20 year-old Matt Fonteyne scored the winner in the shootout. 
• Sure, Brodan Salmond should have stopped Riley Sutter's weak wrister from the right side boards when the score was 3-2, but let's not forget about the saves he made earlier, specifically on Sean Richards, who had a heck of a game. Salmond made a solid glove stop on Richards in the first period and was dialed in early. How about the stick stop Salmond made in the second period where he dove across in desperation to rob Richards again of a sure goal? Wowzers.  The save, which will make the WHL Plays of the Week without question, was essentially a replay of the paddle save Michael Herringer made on Blazers captain Collin Shirley in last year's playoffs. It came at the exact same end of the ice, at the exact same side of the net with the exact same body positioning necessary to dive back and get a stick on the puck. The only difference was Salmond's save came from his stick blade where Herringer's stop was with the paddle of his stick. Both saves were eye-popping. 
• It was nice to see rookie Libor Zabransky score his first career WHL goal. The 17 year-old had a massive smile on his face when he assisted on Cal Foote's opening marker, but the grin was even wider after wiring a shot past the glove of Tips goaltender Carter Hart to make the score 2-0. I always wonder about the fragile confidence a rookie has when playing at the WHL level against older players. How important is it for that player to find success early, in an effort to build confidence and not question his game? Named the third star, Zabransky has flair in the offensive zone, so it was nice to see him rewarded on the score-sheet. 
• Dillon Dube made his 2017-2018 debut and played on a line with Kole Lind and Erik Gardiner. I thought Dube and Lind often over-passed, which is par for the course when two skilled players find themselves on the same line for the first time. I thought Lind, who earned an assist, was the more dynamic of the two. Lind had a chance to win it in overtime, when on the power play, his wrister from the top of the left face-off circle was labeled for the corner but was snagged by Carter Hart. Hart was named the 1st star and I have no problem with that selection. The 19 year-old made timely stops which is what I always look at over the course of a game.
• Lacking scoring depth, you wonder if the Rockets would be better served with Lind and Dube playing on difference lines? That said, the Tips employ their top two scorers - Patrick Bajkov and Matt Fonteyne together - so more teams than not load up with one high end line. Three games into the season means experimentation is the norm. 
• How about the save Carter Hart made on Rockets forward Jack Cowell in the first period? That was a sure goal taken away. Cowell had a team high 6 shots on net. You have to love the turnaround in his overall game and I love that he is shooting with no hesitation.
• It didn't turn out to be the turning point in the game, but it went a long way in enabling the Rockets to earn a point in this one. The team successfully killed off a 5 on 3 when the Tips were awarded a two man advantage about six minutes into the second period.  Tomas Soustal was sent to the penalty box for high sticking and Kole Lind was given a two minute minor for hooking. The Tips failed to score thanks to a shot blocking clinic from Erik Gardiner and Cal Foote that would have made ex-Silvertips head coach Kevin Constantine proud. That courageous effort on the PK came with the Rockets up 2-0 and the Tips pressing.
• An early concern is the power play, which went 0 for 6 in last night's loss. Typically, the penalty killing unit is better at the start of the season before the power play resurrects itself. Remember the power play was third best in the WHL last season. It will get ironed out.
• Another positive? I sure like the way the d-men are jumping up in the play. All three goals were scored by defencemen with Cal Foote the most pro-active in joining the rush. Foote had a goal and an assist and reached the 100 point mark in his WHL career. 
• For the third time this season, a call on the ice was made for playing without a mouth guard. This time Dillon Dube received the 10 minute misconduct. I frankly like the rule and the fact the officials are coming down hard on the players. If you have it in your mouth, wear the darn thing properly. It is like Brian Burke's tie. Don't wear it around your neck! Tie that thing in a knot. 
• The Rockets have opened the scoring in all three games and have carried the lead into the third period in all three games. They have also out-shot their opponent in all three games.
• Despite the shootout loss, the Rockets have not played one second from behind this season.       
• Up next is a date with the Victoria Royals Wednesday night and then a visit to the CN Centre in Prince George next Friday and Saturday night. By then we should know the status of 20 year-old Tomas Soustal. Has Soustal done enough in three games to solidify an import spot or is rookie Marek Skrvne a better option? Has Soustal done enough to be one of three 20 year-old's on the roster this season?