Big hits, raw emotion, results in two goal loss

• Two goals in a span of 25 seconds early in the third period helped the Tri City Americans to a 5-3 win over the Kelowna Rockets Friday night. The win gives the Americans a 1-0 lead in the best of seven second round playoff series, with game two Saturday night at the Toyota Center.
• For the second straight playoff game, the Rockets open the scoring courtesy of Geordie Wudrick's 9th goal of the playoffs. Wudrick responds just 43 second into the opening period to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.
• Two of the Am's goals were the direct result of miscues by two key veterans. Tyson Barrie makes an ill advised cross-ice-pass in his own zone that lands on the tape of Americans forward Justin Feser. Feser skates in on a clear cut breakaway, beating Guggenberger to the blocker side. Wudrick then fails to keep a puck in at the Americans blue line in the third period, which creates an odd man rush the other way. The Am's score to essentially put the game on ice. At that point, the Rockets were taking over the play after a Brandon McMillan goal made it 4-3.
• I thought goaltender Mark Guggenberger had a strong game for the Rockets. Sure he gave up five goals, but he also made solid saves when the game was up for grabs.
• Americans forward Brooks Macek delivers a dangerous hit on Rockets leading scorer Geordie Wudrick at the midway point of the third period. While on the power play, with Macek in the penalty box, Rockets defenceman Dallas Jackson attempts a pass to Wudrick, who is looking back to accept the puck. As the puck approaches Wudrick, Macek steps out of the penalty box and blindsides the unsuspecting forward, sending him flying in the air and crashing heavily on the ice. Macek is not accessed a penalty while Wudrick is helped off the ice. Amazingly Wudrick returns a short time later.
• Rockets rookie defenceman Colton Jobke fights Macek late in the game in a one sided affair. Macek knew something was coming after the hit, so it was best to own up to the questionable contact. Is Macek still a marked man? The series has just begun.
• After watching the hit on video, it was clean, no question. It was not a hit to the head. Is it dangerous? You bet it is. Macek notices that Wudrick is vulnerable, and gives it to him. All is fair in love and war. That hit tells me that on the ice, this is indeed a war.
• Rockets captain Lucas Bloodoff also delivers a big hit in the third period on Am's defenceman Jarrett Toll between the two benches. Toll notices Bloodoff coming and losses the physical battle. I like the fact that Toll, despite being crunched, gets up quickly and moves back into the play.
• Special thanks to the Tri City American organization and the Toyota Center staff for helping us with what appeared to be a phone line problem prior to the start of the game. We were unable to broadcast the game until about halfway through the first period. As it turned out, it had nothing to do with the phone line at the Toyota Center, but rather with an operator error at the radio station back in Kelowna.
• Just under 4 thousand fans watch Friday's game. It may have been a smallish crowd, but man do they make noise. You have to love the American sports fan. I will take four thousand fans cheering and making noise throughout the 60 minute affair over 6 thousand fans who need to be urged to make noise.