Terrific game on Teddy Bear Toss night

Shoot the Breeze Photo

• Half cup full or half cup empty? I will take half cup full please! How can you not walk away from last night's Kelowna Rockets 5-4 overtime loss to the Saskatoon Blades without yelling out like Russell Crowe did in the movie Gladiator, "Are you not entertained"? In a terrific game played at Prospera Place, the Rockets rallied from a third period 4-2 deficit to tie the score before losing in overtime. Down 3-1 heading into the final 20 minutes, the Rockets received goals from Leif Mattson, Braydyn Chizen and Kyle Topping and earned a point when it looked like the home team would come away empty handed. Sure, the game was not without a flawless performance, nor can we expect it to be with a team that sits precariously in second place in the BC Division with 29 games already under its belt. For two teams feeling fatigue, with the Rockets playing the previous night in Tri City and the Blades ending a BC Division road trip, the fans were treated to a beauty.
• The pace of the game was really terrific. I will go out on a limb and suggest it was one, if not the fastest game I've seen the Rockets play this season. Yep, the Rockets matched the pace, which honestly surprised me in a game that featured several glorious scoring chances at both ends. I don't think Adam Foote liked the way it was going on the Rockets bench. Mitch Love would likely agree that it was way too wide open, but coaches, can we just back off for just a second and enjoy the game for what it was? In a season where so many games are hum-drum with an emphasis on defensive hockey, this was a 180 shift from what coaches typically like and the 51 hundred fans enjoyed it.  
• The game winning goal came from Blades d-man Dawson Davidson, who went in a breakaway and beat James Porter between the legs. The scoring chance came courtesy of Kaedan Korczak gambling by attempting to take a pass in close on Blades goaltender Nolan Maier. The pass is intercepted and Davidson is sent up ice with nothing but the Rockets net in front of him. If the pass does get through from Leif Mattson to Korczak, it is likely game over and it looks like a terrific play. Sure, it backfired. That said, I rather see the team be aggressive in overtime and wanting to win rather than playing with the fear of losing. I know the coaches will think otherwise, but I'm a fan of the game, not a coach.
• Rookie Mark Liwiski scored the 'Teddy Bear Toss Goal'. The rookie forwards chip shot on a point blast from d-man Devin Steffler made it a 3-1 score. It was Liwiski's second goal of the season for a forward who does his best work by getting involved physically. The Teddy Bear's came raining down from the crowd, and after a short 8 minute clean up, we were back to the action.
• It was nice to see Braydyn Chizen find the back of the net for his first goal of the season. His seeing eye slapper was essentially the key in the comeback bid. Prior to last nights strike, the 20 year-old hadn't scored since hitting pay dirt March 14, 2018 against Prince George. Eight of Chizen's 11 career goals have come at Prospera Place. Showoff. ;) 
• I really liked the play of 16 year-old Ethan Ernst last night. Collecting an assist on Chizen's blast from the blue-line, Ernst is gaining more confidence and it is clearly evident. I thought he had some excellent shifts against a quick skating team and didn't look out of place.
• When Lane Zablocki plays with pace, it's amazing what he can accomplish. His move off the half wall in setting up Kyle Topping for the tying goal late in the third period was a perfect example of how he needs to use his speed and determination to set up a teammate. I also liked Liam Kindree's dipsy doodle move off the boards for a glorious scoring chance in the second period. I have never seen Kindree do that. I will have seconds of that please!       
• Korczak, Libor Zabransky and Erik Gardiner all celebrated 100 games milestones last night. Gardiner hit 100 games in the WHL earlier this month, but this was his 100th with the Rockets.
• In the first intermission, colour analyst Kent Simpson had Blades GM Colin Priestner on the airwaves for a live interview. Simpson took the interview in the direction I love....talking to Priestner about his singing career and the fact he was a top ranked junior tennis player and competed in NCAA at Illinois University. Great line of questioning. 
• It was also nice to chat with Blades HC Mitch Love before the game. I'm a fan I will admit. Always engaging, I've talked to Mitch many times over the years when he was a player and then assistant coach in Everett. He is a guy you cheer for because of his dedication to the craft of coaching. Love won't turn the fortunes around of the Blades in one season, but his stamp is clearly evident on a team that has missed the playoffs in five straight seasons. In 2018-2019, the team is good enough to be prancing and dancing in post season for the first time since 2012-2013.
• In a tie with Victoria for second place in the BC Division, the game Friday against them is extremely large considering the Royals have played 7 fewer games. That is 14 points that the Royals have in the bank, if they run the table and win all seven. Despite the discrepancy in games played, it's better to be in second place than in the basement where the team has spent far too much time looking above them, not below them in the standings.