Sunday, February 20, 2011

Back atop the division

  • It's amazing what a solid work ethic, physical play, goal production from several sources and a proficient power play can do for your game. Saturday night the Kelowna Rockets put all of those elements together in a 6-3 win over the visiting Vancouver Giants. Evan Bloodoff scored twice as the Rockets moved back into first place in the BC Division.
  • Bloodoff opened the scoring three minutes into the game with a shorthanded goal on a gorgeous backhand. The 20 year-old then made it 2-0 with his second of game five minutes later. Bloodoff now has seven goals in the month of February.
  • Line-mate Geordie Wudrick scored his 32nd goal of the season, giving him five points in the last three games. Colton Sissons plays alongside Wudrick and Bloodoff and collected his 9th points (6+3=9) of the month with an assist on Wudrick's goal.
  • Zach Franko scored during a third period power play when the Rockets enjoyed a 5 on 3 after Andrej Stastny was sent off for elbowing and Spencer Bennett was sent off for high sticking Tyson Barrie in the face. The Rockets would score twice on that extended power play with Franko getting his first goal in nine games while Mitchell Callahan chipped in with his 20th of the season. Those two power play goals were huge considering it was a one goal game with about seven minutes left to go in the third period.
  • Rockets athletic therapist Jeff Thorburn gets a pat on back for stopping a cut after Bennett hits Barrie in the face with the blade of his stick. Barrie left the ice bleeding but returned moments later no worse for wear as Thorburn stopped the bleeding with a little bit of his magic.
  • The best hit of the night came from Rockets d-man Zak Stebner who crushed Giants forward Jordon Martinook with a huge hit at the Kelowna blue line. Martinook didn't return after that jolt.
  • The most snake bitten player on the ice was Rockets 16 year-old d-man Damon Severson. Severson had no less than three ideal chances to score but missed. Severson did pick up an assist.....his first point in 13 games.
  • The win moves the Rockets back into first place in the BC Division with 14 games left in the regular season. Now it's on the road for five straight with stops in Kootenay, Medicine Hat, Red Deer, Calgary and Kamloops.

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