Race for 3rd place

Blazers goaltender Dylan Ferguson is questionable for this weekend vs. Rockets

Game Day Preview: The Kelowna Rockets face the Kamloops Blazers for the 9^th of 10 times this season. The Rockets are 4-3-1-0 in the opening 8 games, having won two of the last three including a 2-0 victory February 23^rd. Four of the 8 games have been decided by a single goal with both teams earning wins in overtime. The two teams meet again tomorrow night at Prospera Place to wrap up the seasonal series. The Rockets need a combination of four wins or Kamloops losses in order to clinch third place in the BC Division and a berth in the 2019 post season for the 23^rd time in the teams’ 24 year history in the Okanagan. The Rockets are coming off an impressive 4-3 home ice win against the Portland Winterhawks Sunday afternoon. Dallon Wilton scored the game winning goal on a beautiful setup from Liam Kindree late in the third period. Following these two games, the Rockets close out the final week of the regular season with a home game against Spokane (Wednesday) and a home-and-home series with the Vancouver Giants to close out the 68 games regular season schedule. Overall, the Rockets are 11-13-3-1 in 28 games since the Christmas break. The Rockets are 23-20-5-1 in 48 games under head coach Adam Foote.

Race for third place: The Rockets have 5 games left in the regular season. They face the Blazers twice this weekend before hosting Spokane and finishing off against Vancouver (twice). The Blazers have 6 games left in the regular season. They face the Rockets twice this weekend before games against Spokane, Victoria and back-to-back games next weekend against the Prince George Cougars.

Who’s Hot: Liam Kindree has points in 5 of his last 6 games. Kindree has 0+5=45 over that period…Kyle Topping has 5+14=19 in his last 19 games…Leif Mattson has 5+10=15 in his last 13 games….Alex Swetlikoff has 5+5=10 in his last 12 games….Nolan Foote has 12+6=18 in his last 19 games….Lassi Thomson has 8+5=13 in his last 20 games …The Rockets have points in 17 of their last 24 home games (13-7-4-0). Mark Liwiski has 7+2=9 in his last 15 games…Shael Higson has 1+5=6 in his last 10 games…Nolan Foote has a shot on goal all but one game this season.

Broadcasters Notebook: Mark Liwiski serves game one of a three game suspension this evening. Liwiski was suspended for a hit Sunday on Portland Winterhawks forward Seth Jarvis….Lassi Thomson’s 17 goals are one shy of the franchise record for goals by a European d-man. Tomas Slovak holds the record (18 goals) in 2002-2003….Kyle Topping hit the 100 career assist mark Sunday against the Winterhawks……The Rockets are 7-10-2-0 in 19 games against a US Division team this season. Three of the 7 wins have come against Tri City with one victory over Spokane, Everett, Seattle and Portland….The Rockets have played 20-one goal games at home this season. Last year they played 15-one goal games at Prospera Place…The team has played in 10-one goal games on the road…The Rockets are 12-15-2-1 against BC Division teams this season…..Adam Foote was officially named the new head coach of the Kelowna Rockets on October 23, 2018 replacing Jason Smith.,.The Rockets are 10-13-2-0 when playing the second game of back-to-backs.

Season Highs/Lows:

Most goals scored: 8 @ Victoria October 19/18 (8-2 W)

Most goals allowed: 9 vs. Seattle October 10^th, 2018 (9-6 L)

Most shots on net: 45 @ Seattle October 6th, 2018 (4-1 L).

Fewest shots on net: 13 @ Edmonton November 17, 2018 (3-1 L)

Most shots allowed: 50 @ Portland November 10, 2018 (3-0 L)

Fewest shots allowed: 16 vs. Victoria December 7, 2018 (2-0 win)

Last time shut out at home: October 3rd, 2018 vs. Vancouver (5-0 L)  

Last time shut out on road: February 1, 2019 @ Spokane (4-0 L)

Last shutout at home: February 23, 2019 vs. Blazers (2-0 W – Roman Basran 18 saves)

Last shutout on the road: January 18, 2019 @ Everett (2-0 W – James Porter 40 saves)

Most power play goals allowed: 4 vs. Seattle October 10^th, 2018 (9-6 L). T-Birds were 4/5 on power play.

Most power play goals scored: 4 @ Victoria October 19, 2018 (8-2 W)

Overtime Games (8): vs. Portland (2-1 L) March 2/2019, vs. Kamloops (2-1 W) February 2, 2019, vs. Seattle (3-2 Loss) January 30, 2019, @ Kamloops (3-2 Loss) December 28, 2018, vs. Saskatoon (5-4 Loss) December 1, 2018, @ Tri City Nov 30, 2018 (3-2 win), @ PG (4-3 Loss) November 14, 2018, vs. PG (4-3 win) October 27, 2018.  

Game Notes Compiled by Regan Bartel of AM 1150