Wednesday, February 2, 2011

7th Heaven

  • The Chilliwack Bruins looked anything but a 9th place hockey club Wednesday night in a 6-4 loss to the Kelowna Rockets. The Bruins played with energy and urgency in their 6th straight loss. It was second period penalty trouble that bit the visitors in the butt. Bruins forward Curt Gogol was given an unsportsmanlike penalty after forward Evan Bloodoff scored on the power play to give the Rockets a 4-3 lead. Chilliwack head coach Marc Habscheid, frustrated with the call, is given a bench minor which translates into a full two minute 5 on 3 power play. Geordie Wudrick then promptly scores the game winning goal, his 30th of the season, on that power play as the Rockets win for the 30th time this season.
  • The game started with Rockets forward Mitchell Callahan fighting former teammate Curt Gogol. The two dropped the gloves at centre ice just 45 seconds into the game. It was Callahan's first fighting major in 18 games. Considering he doesn't do it often anymore, Callahan fared well.
  • The Bruins came out firing in the first period and caused fits for the Rockets in their own zone. Bruins coach Marc Habscheid couldn't have been more pleased by the fore-check his team applied in the opening 10 minutes of the game. That solid work ethic translated into a 2-1 lead for the Bruins after the opening period.
  • Don't let the score fool you, Bruins goaltender Lucas Gore was very good. The overage netminder made several sensational saves to keep his team in the game. The Bruins have no problem playing with the best team's in the league in the offensive zone, but their Achilles heel is clearly in the defensive zone.
  • Bruins leading scorer Ryan Howse had only one assist, but his best work was shorthanded. Diving to make plays and out battling the Rockets when his team was down a man was impressive. If you think Howse is a one trick pony who has little regard for his own zone, think again!
  • Evan Bloodoff is holding the hot hand for the Rockets and is being rewarded with additional ice time. The 20 year-old scored twice against the Bruins giving him 14 goals on the season. Bloodoff's career high is 15 goals during the 2008-2009 season. Bloodoff's shorthanded goal was an absolute beauty.
  • Wudrick's game winning goal was his 30th of the season. Wudrick is now the 11th player in the WHL this season to score 30 or more goals.
  • Zach Franko had his 13 game point streak snapped against the Bruins.
  • The Rockets seven game winning streak is the longest winning streak of the season. The Rockets longest winning streak last season was 9 games, between January 22nd and February 6th.

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