Making a bid for an NHL deal

Shoot the Breeze Photography - Carsen Twarynski

• Carsen Twarynski wants an NHL contract. The 20 year-old also wants to be one of the most dominant players on the ice. It is fair to say the well spoken left winger took another step to realizing both after a three goals effort Wednesday night in a 5-3 win over the visiting Prince George Cougars. Twarynski scored his team leading 16th, 17th and 18th goals of the season and is two goals shy of the career high 20 he scored as a member of the Calgary Hitmen two seasons ago. The Philadelphia Flyers third round selection must be signed by this June or he becomes a free agent. Twarynski now has three career hat-tricks in his career including two this season while scoring consecutive goals in four straight games. 
• The Rockets have been excellent starters from the opening face-off this season and Wednesday was no exception. Twarynski opened the scoring just over 4 minutes into the game and the home team was off to the races for its 9th consecutive win at Prospera Place. The Cougars scored two late third period goals in garbage time to make it look respectable, but the home team was never in danger of losing this one. The Rockets improved to 9-3-0-0 against teams in the BC Division and are now 4-0-0-0 against the Cougars. The two teams won't meet again until three games in February including two at CN Centre.
• Is Dillon Dube better when Kole Lind isn't in the line-up? Odd statement yes, but if you look at the statistics it appears to be true. Dube scored a shorthanded goal in the first period that may be the best goal of the season by any Rockets forward. I thought Twarynski's shorthanded goal against the Medicine Hat Tigers Saturday was sweet, but Dube's 'shorty' was even better as he beat all five Cougars on the ice before scoring with a wrist shot to the top left corner of the net. Dube has points in 7 of his last 8 games and is shooting the puck way more now. In the last three games his shot total is 18. It should come as no surprise that the Calgary Flames second rounder has goals in 6 of his last 7 games and is only five goals shy from the 20 he scored a season ago.
• Lind missed his 6th straight game while Eric Gardiner sat out his 12th consecutive. Those are two top 6 forwards that are missing from the line-up. That's a huge loss for any team.
• I thought rookie Colum McGauley played his best game in a Rockets uniform. McGauley was way more involved in the play and made some nice passes. The 17 year-old was also awarded a penalty shot but failed to score. 
• Liam Kindree has points in 8 of his last 10 games and continues to create offense playing with Dube and Twarynski. At one point in October the skilled forward went 10 games without a point. That's not good. Frankly it was concerning for a player who is crafty in the attacking zone and holds the highest hockey IQ of any of the Rockets first year forwards. Whoever moved him to the top line deserves a pat on the back. A skilled player like Kindree has to play with top end players, not with grinders. 
• It was good to see Cal Foote find the back of the net. It was his first goal in 10 games. With the type of shot Foote possesses, he shouldn't go through those types of dry spells. With an assist Wednesday night, the captain is now two shy of 100 for his career.
• Nolan Foote returned to the line-up against the Cougars after being hurt against the Lethbridge Hurricanes November 17th. Nolan also celebrated his 17th birthday Wednesday night. 
• The game again featured American born goalies going toe-to-toe. James Porter, from Idaho, faced fellow 17 year-old rookie Isaiah DiLaura, who was born and raised in Lakeville, Minnesota. Porter was a 7th round bantam pick while DiLaura was a 8th rounder.
• The Rockets now head to Spokane for a date with the Chiefs Friday night before playing their final home game before the Christmas break Saturday against the visiting Kootenay Ice.   
• A terrific conversation before the game tonight with Czech Republic born forward Marek Skrvne. When approached to do an interview, he was apprehensive. Once we sat down and talked, the 18 year-old was terrific. Well spoken, smart and his English was excellent. It was one of the most impressive interviews I've conducted with a first year player this season.  
• The Rockets closed out November with a record of 8-3-1-0 in 12 games. One word - impressive!