Third period collapse ends streak

• If you were asked to describe the Kelowna Rockets performance Friday night using the analogy of a boxer, it would best be described as the Rockets failing to deliver the knockout punch in a 3-2 loss to the Chilliwack Bruins. The Rockets had the Bruins on the ropes after 40 minutes before the home team roared back with three unanswered goals in a 3-2 come-from-behind win. Twenty year-old defenceman Brandon Manning led the Bruins back from a 2-0 deficit with two-third period goals before Mitch Topping scored the game winner. Forward Brett Bulmer scored twice for the Rockets, who saw their five game winning streak come to an end.
• While Bulmer ended the game with two goals, Spencer Main collected two assists.
• Jordan Cooke received a rare start in place of WHL goaltender of the month Adam Brown. It was Cooke's first start since a 4-2 win in Prince George November 19th.
  
• The loss kept the Rockets from moving into a tie with Prince George for first place in the BC Division. The Cougars ended up losing 5-4 to the visiting Seattle Thunderbirds Friday night. The Cougars remain two points up on the Rockets.
  
• I thought the Rockets had a solid opening period and were full marks for the 1-0 lead. The Rockets out-shot the Bruins 12-4 and dominated most aspects of the opening frame. Give the Bruins credit for finding their game in the second and failing to throw in the towel despite being down 2-0 heading into the third.
• The Bruins should have been down just one goal heading into the third period after forward Robin Soudek hit the goal post on a wide open net after receiving a great feed from teammate Kevin Sundher. Some fans at Prospera Centre were so sure it was going to be a goal that they prematurely began throwing stuffed toys onto the ice. Yes, it was Teddy Bear Toss night in Chilliwack and fans had a chance to litter the ice when Brandon Manning opened the scoring less than two minutes into the third period.
  
• The most impressive play of the night may have come in the second period when Rockets defenceman Tyson Barrie broke his stick on the power play. With the puck slowly making its way to centre ice with Bruins forward Roman Horak in hot pursuit, Barrie is calmly handed a new stick from the Rockets bench and goes back to retrieve the puck. Everyone in the building, outside of Barrie, is amazed that Horak wasn't able to go the other way with the puck on a shorthanded breakaway.
  
• The Rockets have now been involved in three straight one goal games. All three games have ended 3-2.
  
• The Bruins, who own the best power play in the WHL, have failed to score a man advantage goal in three games against the Rockets in the seasonal series.