Win tainted by trips to the box

It’s been a problem in these parts for sometime now. 

If Kris Mallette has any say in it, which he clearly does as the head coach of the Kelowna Rockets, like a good mechanic, he will do his best to fix it.

Undisciplined penalties.

It’s been a common theme with the hockey club for no less than three years. Maybe longer? It isn’t smart hockey. It’s hockey that will result in loses and ultimately early exits from the playoffs if it isn’t eradicated.

Last night at Prospera Place, the Rockets allowed the one win Royals to hang around for a possible third period comeback by going to the penalty box - time and time again. Fortunately for the road team - the Rockets were the visitors in this one despite playing at home - the Royals fired blanks in the final frame and rookie goaltender Nicholas Cristiano was forced to make 16 saves in the process.

Oh, the score ended up being 5-1, but this continued aggressive play after the whistle needs to stop. You can bet Kris Mallette, who was an enforcer in his day as a player, will make it happen. Even Mallette realizes, this isn't a quick fix though.

• Positives? Lots. Let’s start with 16 year-old rookie Nicholas Cristiano. Getting his first career start, could it have gone any better for him? He gets run support (baseball analogy) from David Kope 26 seconds in and made two stops early in the game to gain some confidence. I thought he played well. Looked composed. Tall but skinny, he was square to pucks and had his goal posts help him out twice. I hope he is the goalie of the future, because I am not sure who is after Roman Basran and Cole Schwebius age out next season. You need a young goalie to emerge. Let’s hope Cristiano is that guy.
• David Kope wears sweater #18. He reminds me so much of alumnus Cam Paddock. Kope, like Paddock, isn’t very physical. That said, Kope puts up points like ‘Pads’ did.  The 20 year-old had 1+2=3 last night and collected his 100th career point in the process. Kope leads the team in scoring. Enough said.
• Mark Liwiski had a goal and an assist. His assist to set up Kope’s goal was one of beauty. The 19 year-old separates the puck from the Royals defender by knocking him on his rear, then slides it over to Kope and it’s in the back of the net. In the third period he gets over aggressive in the crease after a goal mouth scramble and takes a bad penalty. That’s an older guy that needs to be smarter.
• Why were the shots so close last night? Penalties. I would love to see what the shot volumes were 5 on 5. I’d suggest the majority of the shots the Royals administered towards the net were with a Rockets player sitting in the box.
• Scott Cousins scored his first career goal. It was an ugly one on a horrible turnover inside the Royals zone. The likeable 17 year-old will take the gift wrapped goal.
• How did Turner McMillen not score last night? With a yawning cage and his eyes wider and brighter than that full mood Monday night, McMillen hit the goal post. I double clutched on the radio getting ready to yell - scooooores - before it amazed me by grazing the iron.
• The Rockets have now out-scored the opposition 33-11 in the games they’ve won this season. In those 6 wins, five times they’ve opened up the scoring.
• The Royals have lost 10 straight. Playing a lot of rookies is a factor, but look at the Rockets roster. Kris Mallette is winning games with a lot of players that are wet behind the ears too. For Dan Price it could be worse. The team lost 11 in a row in 2012-13.
• You don’t often get many clear indicators of how good your group truly is until the rubber hits the road. It hits the road - big time - when the Rockets play the elite in three consecutive games. Vancouver is here Thursday with a home and home series with Kamloops Friday and Saturday. Playing undisciplined hockey like they did against the Royals will make for an agonizing three in three. Play smart, you can prove to yourself that indeed - winners of 5 of their last 6 - this Rockets team is for real.