Heated rivalry getting hotter

Photo credit - Allen Douglas

While not mathematically eliminated from catching the Kamloops Blazers for first place in the BC Division, the Kelowna Rockets took another step backwards this weekend. After playing well and likely deserving a better fate in a 3-2 shootout loss Friday night at Prospera Place, the Blazers used a Dylan Garand 33 save shutout performance one night later in a 4-0 win. It was the second time this season the team has been shut out on the road, losing 2-0 in Vancouver way back in October.

The Rockets now sit 14 points back of the Blazers with time ticking down. While holding three games in hand, the focus should be on securing home ice advantage in what appears to be a guaranteed date with the Seattle Thunderbirds in the opening round of the WHL playoffs. It’s more realistic and attainable to set your sights on Seattle with 12 games left in the regular season. While still able to catch Kamloops for first, lots would have to go right and much would have to go wrong for the Blazers.

Saturday’s fourth consecutive loss (0-2-0-2) didn’t lack emotion. It featured three fights and the coaches jawing at one another late in the game. One side will say the Rockets are poor sports for physical aggression late in the game while some may question Blazers leading scorer Logan Stankoven pointing at the score-clock or teammate Reese Belton doing a fly-by at the Rockets bench essentially waving goodbye with his glove hand. Gamesmanship? Sure. Depends which side your on. Good old fashioned hockey? Again, depends where your allegiances lie. One thing is clear, playing a home and home series on consecutive weekends against an arch geographical rival will stir up emotion. 

• Much will be made about the yelling match between Rockets head coach Kris Mallette and Blazers assistant Chris Murray. After watching it again on video, was it really that big of a deal? We don't see it often, nor should we, but it's not like it doesn't happen in the heat of the battle. The two coaches never left the positions they were basically standing in all night long. Neither coach positioned himself closer to the glass that separates the two benches to give the other an extra ear full. Had one grabbed the glass and started shaking it like a maniac or jumped down from the bench and literally got his grill in the face of the other, well then we would have something to talk about. I've seen way more animation. Need proof?
• The Blazers are good, but we knew that. We knew that Dylan Garand is very good. He proved that again this weekend. I'd suggest the 19 year-old was one of the main reasons why the Blazers skated away with two wins on the weekend. Heck, he was the third star in a 3-2 shootout win and then received second star honours in a 4-0 victory. I'd say he is the best Blazers goalie I've ever seen in my 22 years in the Western Conference with the best supporting cast in front of him. 
• I thought Tayln Boyko had a really good weekend. The 19 year-old was real sharp Friday night when he allowed just one goal in the shootout. He also had to stop Logan Stankoven on a penalty shot Saturday night in an effort to give his team a chance. Goaltending with the Kelowna Rockets is not a problem. Goaltending is clearly a strength. 
• The difference between winning and losing this weekend wasn't penalties. The Rockets took eight, but so did the Blazers. The difference maker was the power play. While the Blazers score one more goal with the man advantage (2 for 8 while the Rockets were 1 for 8 on the weekend), the Rockets also surrendered a shorthanded goal. While the Blazers power play didn’t manufacture many goals, it did provide momentum and territorial play. That counts for something even if it doesn’t help you on the score-sheet. I found the Rockets power play often struggled and wasn’t a constant threat, something the Blazers five man unit often was.
• While the Rockets have lost the last five meetings between the two teams, take note that they’ve been more than a formidable foe against a team (Blazers) everyone expected to be elite this season. In fact, the Rockets have lost just three times in regulation in the 12 games played head-to-head. Three!! The Rockets have earned 16 points in the seasonal series while the Blazers have earned 11. Six of the games (50% of them) have been decided by one goal.
• What’s next? After a steady diet at the Blazers buffet table, the Rockets get reacquainted with the Victoria Royals Tuesday and Wednesday against a team that may be dead last in the BC Division, but sit in one of the two final playoff spots in the Western Conference. While it looks like the Rockets are going down a weight class after taking on a heavy weight (Blazers) in four consecutive games, if they let down their guard even a smidgen, they will be leaving the Island riding the longest losing streak of the season and two weekend games against the Blazers in many respects will be inconsequential.