Rockets on last long roady

• While it looks like a three horse race between Kelowna, Kamloops and Seattle for a final playoff spot, my gut is telling me its actually the Rockets and Blazers that are treading on the thinnest ice. If the playoffs were to begin today, the Blazers would be out along with the Prince George Cougars. My belief is the Cougars won't be seeing the post season for a second straight season even though they are not yet mathematically eliminated. Seattle, from an outsiders perspective, is surging. Sure, they won't be flawless either down the stretch, but its the Rockets and Blazers that are playing more inconsistent hockey then their U.S Division brethren. The only hope for Kelowna and Kamloops is for Seattle to stub their toes more times than not with inter-divisional games against the likes of Everett and Portland. The T-Birds see one of those two teams 7 times in their final 12 regular season games, so they clearly have the hardest schedule of the three. The problem I have with Kelowna and Kamloops is both teams inability to string a series of wins together. The Rockets have improved significantly under head coach Adam Foote, but the problem is so has everyone else. The Blazers are equally inconsistent and can't win on the road. For my money, it is going to come down to three games. Those three games feature the Rockets and Blazers in head-to-head play. Whoever is able to win that mini playoff series, let's call it that, will be playing past the regular season when it ends March 16th.
• Nolan Foote has 28 goals this season. To put that into context, Jamie Benn, as a member of the Kelowna Rockets in the 2007-2008 season scored 33 times. Benn was also 18 at the time, the exact same age as Foote. The only difference between the two players, who are both blessed with wicked releases, is Benn was already drafted by the Dallas Stars when he scored those 33 goals, while Foote will be selected this summer in Vancouver. Foote has the advantage though of playing three seasons in the WHL while Benn was in his rookie campaign in 2007-2008 after spending time in the BC Hockey League. But again, for Nolan Foote to have 28 goals in his draft year is nothing we’ve seen in these parts for a long, long time. 
• As the Rockets open a three game road trip Monday afternoon in Victoria, what can we expect from a team that will be hard pressed to reach the .500 mark at seasons end. Is winning two of three feasible? I think it is. Both games against the Royals are doable for several reasons. 1) The team has had success against the Royals this season. 2) Two of those victories came on the Island (5-1 and 8-2) and while Victoria goaltender Griffen Outhouse didn't play in either game, the Rockets showed no mercy with lopsided wins. 3) The Rockets should be the fresher of the two teams. Despite back-to-back  losses to Everett and Vancouver on the weekend, both were on home ice after essentially five days without a game. The Royals were up north in Prince George Friday and Saturday night, earning two wins against a Cougars team that is winless in 15. I should also mention the Royals closed out 5 straight games on the road. If we are measuring fatigue only, the Rockets should be the fresher and the Royals the weary in the BC Day matinee.
• Are the Kelowna Rockets a better road team than a home team? I'm guessing - yes. The Rockets are one of only three teams this season with more road wins than home victories. The Rockets have 11 victories at Prospera Place and an impressive 12 away from it. In fact, the Rockets are the only team in the BC Division with more road wins than home wins. As a measuring stick, the Rockets won 26 games on home ice last season and 17 on the road.             
• Will we see Liam Kindree on this road trip? The chance are we likely will, but how effective he will be when he makes his return is anyone's guess? Kindree, an important spoke in the Rockets offensive wheel, hasn't played since receiving a broken nose when he made contact with teammate Cayde Augustine in a game back on January 26th in a 2-1 loss to visiting Vancouver. Todate, Kindree has missed 8 consecutive games.