Sometimes you're the windshield....

A Douglas Photo credit

 Sometime you're the windshield. Sometimes you're the bug.

The Kelowna Rockets are finding that out in the opening five games of this abbreviated season.

After scoring 14 goals in back-to-back wins against Prince George and Victoria, the rubber hit the road last night in a 6-2 loss to the Kamloops Blazers. Specialty teams and a lack of discipline were factors in the setback. Kamloops scored five goals with the extra man and were never in true danger of losing this one. Whenever the Rockets appeared to be challenging for a come-back-bid, an untimely penalty got in the way. They didn't do themselves any favours either, going 0 for 5 with the extra man, dropping their overall record to 3-2-0-0. The Blazers are an impressive 8-2-0-0. 

• Mark Liwiski and David Kope provided the scoring for the visitors, who were out-shot and outplayed in the opening period. The Blazers built up a 4-0 lead after 20 minutes. Thankfully, the Rockets came alive in the second period and turned the tables, but coming back from that deep hole against the defending BC champs doesn't come easy. Cole Schwebius gave his team a chance with back-to-back breakaway saves on leading scorer Connor Zary to make it interesting.
• Liwiski and Kope now have goals in back-to-back games. Liwiski's was the teams fourth shorthanded goal in five games while Kope's marker was one where he deflected the puck in mid-air after a quick wrister from the blue-line by Tyson Feist.
• Who's is taking full advantage of this abbreviated season? I'd guess d-man Jake Lee is taking it seriously. They all do, obviously, but Lee has turned his play up a notch. I think he was terrific last night and is making great decisions with the puck. Undrafted, Lee needs to show urgency if he wants to play this game professionally. I really like what I've seen from him - specifically on the penalty kill.
• Lee played in his 200th career game last night. 65 of them have been played in Kelowna Rockets colours after a trade with the Seattle Thunderbirds.
• Alex Swetlikoff played in his 100th career game.  He was good at the face-off circle, winning 11 of 18 draws but was quiet on the offensive zone. 
• The best Rocket last night? I sure liked rookie d-man John Babcock. The 16 year-old is a stocky player that knows his limitations. I thought he played a solid game against a quick, quick team. Babcock was a +2 and had two shots on net.
• The best Blazer? Everyone will say Connor Levis after his four goal effort. Sure, he was good, but d-man Mats Lindgren caught my attention. The first round bantam pick passed my eye test. Head Coach Shaun Clouston played him a ton (isn't that what this season is designed for?) and he made some real nice plays. Who is the last, real, real good - young - Blazers d-man to take the WHL by storm? Maybe Lindgren is the man? Watch and wait if he delivers. 
• The Blazers played this one without Logan Stankoven and Orrin Centazzo. That's a lot of fire power out of that lineup. I still think the Blazers are the best team in the BC Division hub. It may not look like it on paper, but if this was a 'real season' they would be fighting for the Ed Chynoweth Cup. While many feel sorry for the Rockets not being able to host the 2020 Memorial Cup, how would you like to be the Blazers at the peak of their cycle, yet essentially playing for next season? The Blazers would have needed to add a player or two - via trade - to only increase their chances for a long playoff run, but the core is intact for championship success.  
• The Rockets will face the Blazers an additional time. The WHL announced another game between the team teams has been added after being missed when the Rockets were tangling with COVID. The two teams will meet Friday April 30th. The additional game means the Rockets will miss 8 games, not 9, when they were shut down for two weeks.   
• I've eaten McDonalds as a post game meal in Kamloops twice in the last 4 days. I may have to visit Weight Watchers when this season is over. That, or do my own version of Super Size Me!!