Rockets rough start continues

• Wins are never easy in the Western Hockey League. Just ask the 2018-2019 edition of the Kelowna Rockets. Four games into the season, they have yet to experience what it feels like to look up at the scoreboard when the buzzer sounds and celebrate a hard fought victory. The latest setback came Friday night in a 3-2 loss at the CN Centre to the Prince George Cougars. A sleepy start followed by a second period where they generated only three shots on goal was likely their undoing. In arguably their best period of the season, in the third, they rallied back from a two goal deficit and scored two quick goals to tie the game. But in a season where goals have been hard to come by and favorable bounces have been few and far between, the game was lost when Cougars rookie forward Matej Toman scored by banking a puck off the skate of Rockets d-man Braydyn Chizen during a goal mouth scramble. The loss, the teams fourth in four attempts, matches a losing streak to start the season that was equaled in the non-playoff season of 2006-2007 and matched to start the 2010-2011 campaign. In both of those instances, the Rockets would earn a much needed win in the fifth game of the season. Game five goes tonight at the CN Centre in the rematch of these two BC Division rivals. 
• Looking back at the 2006-2007 season, the team got out of the blocks slowly with only one win in their first eight games. The record was 1-6-0-1 to open that season. I remember it for all the wrong reasons. They were able to win only 4 of their first 17 games and managed a franchise low 22 victories that season. 
• When you are struggling, the thing you don't want to do is chase the game. Well, the Rockets were chasing the game early when the Cougars scored two minutes into the opening face-off and made it 2-0 just :45 seconds later. As poorly as the Rockets played to that point, the Cougars had chances but couldn't make it a 3-0 game despite out-shooting the visitors 20-11 after two periods. That allowed for a possible comeback, something the Rockets almost pulled off with third period goals from Connor Bruggen-Cate and Nolan Foote.
• Bruggen-Cate's goal was assisted by rookie forward Ethan Ernst. It was the 16 year-old's first career WHL point. The encouraging sign for Ernst is he has gotten progressively better in the four games he has played at the major junior level. The coaches are rewarding him with power play time thanks to his strong play five on five.   
• The Rockets are 0 for 14 in their last three games on the power play. The only goal the team has generated was opening night against the Kamloops Blazers. 
• The coaching staff have been flip flopping the goaltenders in the opening four games. James Porter played in games 1 and 3 while Roman Basran started in games 2 and 4. Neither of them are getting much run support, so it appears a win is in the cards if they can give up two goals or less. That is a big ask for a tandem that doesn't have as much support in front of them as a season ago. The Rockets haven't been able to score that elusive third goal. 
• Nolan Foote's first goal of the season came on his only shot on goal. It seems odd doesn't it that the about to turn 18 year-old had 12 shots in the opening two games of the season yet came away empty handed. 
• Leif Mattson had his three game goal scoring streak snapped last night. Mattson must be thanking his lucky stars for not being injured in the game when Cougars d-man Austin Crossley threw a mean knee at the 19 year-old, knocking the teams leading scorer to the ice.
• The player that showed the most grit and determination was 19 year-old Erik Gardiner. Gardiner received a double minor for roughing in a flare up behind the Cougars net late in the second period and then was involved in a fight with defenceman Rhett Reinhart seven minutes into the third period. Hey, if you aren't scoring, at least Gardiner was doing something in the way of getting involved for the greater good of the team. 
• The Rockets played Friday's game without 20 year-old Ryan Bowen. Bowen was ill. That meant the team dressed only one overager; defenceman Braydyn Chizen. Speaking of 20 year-old's, that third and final spot needs to be filled and will be shortly with all team's forced to be down to three of them by October 10th.
• Wil Kushniryk, after being a healthy scratch in the opening three games of the season, made his 2018-2019 debut. The only players yet to dress for a game is 18 year-old Kyle Pow and injured forward Liam Kindree. 
• As one observer point out after last night's game, the Rockets have essentially lost 12 straight games if you include a four game playoff sweep at the hands of the Tri City Americans last season, a winless pre-season (4 games) and now four consecutive losses during the regular season.
• The Cougars organization pulled out all the stops on opening night to celebrate 25 seasons. The team had 18 vintage cars escort players to the front of CN Centre, where they were met by a red carpet and adoring fans as they made their way inside the building. The rock-star treatment was a nice touch and the weather couldn't have been much better for the event. 
• We are on the air tonight at 6 pm with the Kelowna Rockets This Week. WHL Director of Hockey Richard Doerksen is among the guests. Also joining us will be former Kelowna Rockets captain Josh Gorges, who has been essentially forced into retirement.