Game Day: Déjà vu, Rockets and Cougars go head to head for second night in a row
Rockets @ Cougars
Saturday, January 12th, 2019
Game Time – 7:05 pm
Game Day Preview: The Kelowna Rockets meet the Prince George Cougars for the 8th time this season. These two teams met last night at CN Centre, with the Cougars scoring four-first period goals in a lopsided 7-2 win. Leif Mattson and Nolan Foote scored power-play goals in the loss, the teams 4th in a row (0-3-0-1). The Rockets were out-shot 37-20. It is the most goals the team has surrendered on the road this season, matching the 7-0 loss the team suffered in Red Deer November 16th. Overall, the Rockets are 2-3-1-1 in the seasonal series, which after tonight, wraps up February 8th in Kelowna. After tonight’s game, the Rockets host Moose Jaw Wednesday before travelling to Everett Friday night. The team welcomes Marc Habscheid, Jeff Truitt and the Prince Albert Raiders Saturday night. The Rockets are 13-10-3-1 in 27 games under head coach Adam Foote.
Who’s Hot: Lassi Thomson has 2+6=8 points in his last 10 games…Nolan Foote has points in 10 of his last 14 games. Foote has 6+8=14 over that stretch…Leif Mattson has 10 goals in his last 17 games. The 19-year-old has registered at least one shot on goal in 39 of the teams 41 games this season. Kyle Topping has registered a point in 29 of the teams 41 games this season… The Rockets penalty killing unit is 39 for 46 in their last 10 road games…The Rockets have points in 10 of their last 11 home games (8-1-2-0).
New Boys on Blue Line: The team acquired 20-year-old Shael Higson Wednesday from the Brandon Wheat Kings for 20-year-old Braydyn Chizen and a 5th round bantam pick. The team then claimed 20-year-old defenceman Matt Barberis off waivers Thursday from the Vancouver Giants. To make room for Barberis, the team released overage forward Lane Zablocki.
Broadcasters Notebook: The Rockets are 4-7-0-0 in 11 games against a US Division team this season. Three of the four wins have come against Tri-City with a single victory over Seattle…The team plays 9 more games against US Division rivals with four games against Spokane, two with Everett and Portland and a single against Seattle.….The Rockets have played 11-one-goal games at home this season. Last year they played 15-one-goal games at Prospera Place…The team has played in 8-one-goal games on the road….The Rockets have six birthday’s in January which includes Liam Kindree (Jan 2nd), Kris Mallette (Jan 19th – turns 40), Ethan Ernst and Dalton Gally (Jan 26th), Ted Brennan (Jan 28th) and Kaedan Korczak (January 29th)…The Rockets are sending a CHL high three players to the CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game next month in Red Deer. Nolan Foote, Lassi Thomson and Kaedan Korczak will attend the game of the top 40 prospects. The game will take place January 23rd…Since going 1-8-0-0 to start the season, the team is 16-12-3-1 in their last 32 games …Leif Mattson has 5-two-goal games this season. Four of those five-two goal games have come on the road…The Rockets are 7-9-2-1 against BC Division teams this season…Five members of the Kelowna Rockets have been named to NHL Central Scouting’s November “Players to Watch’ List. Forward Nolan Foote is an ‘A’ prospect, meaning a first-round candidate. Kaedan Korczak is a ‘B’ prospect which means he is a second or third round candidate. Roman Basran/Lassi Thomson and Alex Swetlikoff are ‘C’ prospects, which means he could be taken in the third to the seventh round…Adam Foote was officially named the new head coach of the Kelowna Rockets on October 23, 2018, replacing Jason Smith.,,The Rockets are 5-9-1-0 when playing the second game of back-to-backs.
Season Highs/Lows:
Most goals scored: 8 @ Victoria October 19/18 (8-2 W)
Most goals allowed: 9 vs. Seattle October 10th, 2018 (9-6 L)
Most shots on net: 45 @ Seattle October 6th, 2018 (4-1 L).
Fewest shots on net: 13 @ Edmonton November 17, 2018 (3-1 L)
Most shots allowed: 50 @ Portland November 10, 2018 (3-0 L)
Fewest shots allowed: 16 vs. Victoria December 7, 2018 (2-0 win)
Last time shut out at home: October 3rd, 2018 vs. Vancouver (5-0 L)
Last time shut out on road: November 10, 2018 @ Portland (3-0 L)
Last shutout at home: December 7, 2018 vs. Victoria (2-0 W – Roman Basran 16 saves)
Most power play goals allowed: 4 vs. Seattle October 10th, 2018 (9-6 L). T-Birds were 4/5 on the power play.
Most power play goals scored: 4 @ Victoria October 19, 2018 (8-2 W)
Overtime Games: @ Kamloops (3-2 Loss) December 28, 2018, vs. Saskatoon (5-4 Loss) December 1, 2018, @ Tri City Nov 30, 2018 (3-2 win), @ PG (4-3 Loss) November 14, 2018, vs. PG (4-3 win) October 27, 2018.
Game Notes Compiled by Regan Bartel of AM 1150
