Rockets flat in BC Division battle

Connor Bruggen-Cate - Shoot the Breeze Photography

• The Kelowna Rockets have often faced shoddy opposition goaltending this season. Saturday night in Vancouver/Langley wasn't one of those times. Giants starter David Tendick was solid, leading his team to a 3-2 win. Tendick made several timely stops, including a point blank chance against Rockets leading scorer Kole Lind and then two tremendous saves in a ten second sequence in the third period against Braydyn Chizen and Connor Bruggen-Cate. In a season where I'd say goaltending across the league is very, very average, Tendick's exploits were a bright spot for a 18 year-old who was named the second star with a 28 save performance. The loss, the Rockets second in four meetings against the Giants this season, has the two team's separated by 1 point in the BC Division standings. The Rockets do hold two games in hand.
• While Tendeck was sharp in the Giants goal, I think it would be fair to suggest the Rockets top end forwards were not. I thought it was a really quiet night for Lind, Carsen Twarynski and Kyle Topping. Lind's first period scoring chance was really his only one of the game. Twarynski, named the third star, also had a quiet game for a player knocking on the door of 30 goals. Topping, who has points in 11 of his last 13 games, also had a very uneventful evening. In a game against division leaders, those three can't be innocent bystanders. Twarynski and Topping combined for only three shots on goal. Lind had a total of five under the watchful eye of Vancouver Canucks Senior Advisor Stan Smyl who took in the game.
• If you think I am being hard on the top end players, it is a fact that you will only go as far as those players carry you. Let's use this analogy. If a lead singer of a rock group has tone or pitch problems, the band, no matter how well they play the guitar or drums, will be considered unlistenable. The lead singer, or in this case, leading scorers need to be at their best.
• Secondary scoring will be pivotal for the Rockets to have long term playoff success, but it is never good when only Leif Mattson and Connor Bruggen-Cate are hitting the score-sheet. Bruggen-Cate's one timer from the left face-off circle was a nice goal, his career high 10th of the season. The third year forward now has 4 goals in his last 6 games. Mattson's passing attempt went off a Giants defender and through the legs of Tendick to tie the score at two. It was Mattson's 14th goal of the season as he generated a team high 6 shots on net. Mattson has points now in 7 of his last 8 games. I would say those two played the hardest among the forward core and were rewarded offensively for it. 
• While the power play was a key factor in a 6-2 win in Seattle Friday night, it let them down a night later. In a scoreless tie, the Rockets were granted three consecutive power plays in the first period but couldn't convert. The visitors could have taken over the game at that point but allowed the Giants to hang around before eventually the home team scored three of the final four goals of the game.      
• The Rockets played the game without Dillon Dube who is sidelined with the flu. Dube has missed 13 straight games either playing for Canada or become ill at tournaments end.  We should see the 19 year-old back in the line-up Wednesday against Lethbridge.
• Kole Lind did extend his point streak to 12 games with an assist on Connor Bruggen-Cate's opening goal.
• Brodan Salmond was James Porter Junior's back-up in both games. Sixteen year-old Roman Basran is still be evaluated after being injured in the first period of last Wednesday's 7-4 home ice win over Spokane. 
• The Rockets five game road winning streak came to an end. The team had picked up wins over PA, Saskatoon, Kmaloops, Calgary and Seattle before losing at the Langley Events Centre.
• While Cal Foote had his 5 game point streak snapped Saturday night, he made a goal saving stop in the crease when Rockets goaltender James Porter Junior lost sight of the puck behind him and Foote came in and used his glove to swipe the puck from going over the goal line. We've seen that play before haven't we!
• The Rockets are now 19-7-0-0 in their last 26 games. The Giants are 18-6-2-0 over that same stretch. In the BC Division, it will be a fight to the finish. 
• The Rockets have a busy week ahead of them. After a home game against the Lethbridge Hurricanes Wednesday night, the team again returns to Seattle for the second time in a week on Friday. The Rockets then rush home to face the Victoria Royals Saturday night.