GAME DAY: Rockets In Spokane to Take on Chiefs
Rockets @ Chiefs
Saturday, Nov. 14/15
Game Time ‑ 7:05 pm
Tonight’s Preview: The Kelowna Rockets face a U.S Division team for the fourth time in five games tonight when they visit the Spokane Chiefs. Last week the Rockets were 3-0-0-0 in games in Tri City and back-to-back wins in Portland. This is the first of four meetings between the Rockets and Chiefs this season. The Chiefs make two visits to Kelowna on February 5th and 27th. The Rockets return for another visit on March 12th. The Rockets were 4-0-0-0 in four games against the Chiefs last season, including 4-3 and 3-2 wins in Spokane. Overall, the Rockets out-scored the Chiefs 16-9 in the four game seasonal series. The Rockets are coming off a 2-1 win Wednesday afternoon against the Vancouver Giants. Tanner Wishnowski scored in the third period to tie the game at one before Nick Merkley scored the game winner in a shootout. Jackson Whistle had another solid game, earning his 10th win of the season. The Rockets have won nine of their last 11 games overall and are 8-3-0-0 on the road. Following tonight’s game, the Rockets travel to Kamloops next Wednesday. The next home game is Friday November 20th against the visiting Edmonton Oil Kings. Overall, the Rockets are riding a 5 game winning streak.
Five alive: The Rockets have out-scored the opposition 23-13. Of the 23 goals in those five games, only four have been scored in the first period. The big period has been the third where the team has found the back of the net 12 times. In the second period the Rockets have scored six goals. Eight of the 13 goals the team has surrendered during this 5 game winning streak have come in the third period. During the winning streak the Rockets have scored 7 power play goals on 18 chances (40%).
Baillie Approaching 250! Overage forward Tyson Baillie is two points shy of 250 for his career. Only four players have recorded that many points, all wearing a Rockets uniform. Brett McLean had 375 points before being traded to Brandon in his 20 year-old season. John Varga had 333 career points with Tacoma. Jason Deleurme had 313 career points while Kiel McLeod had 261 career points.
Head to Head vs. Spokane: The Rockets were 4-0-0-0 against the Chiefs last season. In the last five seasons the Rockets have 10 wins in 16 regular season games against the Chiefs. The team has lost just five times in regulation time and once in a shootout over that period. The Rockets are 5-3-0-0 in their last eight appearances at Spokane Memorial Arena.
This and That: The Rockets have scored a league high 52 times on the road this season…The Rockets average 4.7 goals on the road per game and just 3.1 goals per game on home ice…The Rockets own the best winning % in the WHL at 0.737…The Rockets have 8 road wins. Only Victoria has more with 9….The Rockets are rated as the 8th best team in the country according to the CHL Top 10 rankings this week. The Rockets were rated 5th at the start of the season…Cole Linaker played in his 200th career game Wednesday against the Giants…Nick Merkley is the WHL POW. Merkley had 4=4=8 in three wins last week…..Tyson Baillie and Lucas Johansen share the same birthday. The two were born on November 16th. Baillie will turn 20 while Johansen will turn 18….Jackson Whistle has started 10 of the last 13 games…Tyson Baillie has averaged 28 goals over his last three seasons…The Rockets next play three games in three nights January 29th, 30th and 31st with two of those three games on home ice….The Rockets had two players taken in the NHL draft. Nick Merkley was taken in the first round by Arizona. Devante Stephens was chosen in the 5th round by Buffalo…Cole Linaker (Oilers), Tomas Soustal (Flames) and Tyson Baillie (Flames) all received free agent tryouts…Sixteen year-old defenceman Jonathan Smart made his Rockets debut Wednesday against the Giants. Smart was the Rockets first round bantam pick from 2014.
Who’s Hot: Kole Lind has 7 points (3+4=7) in his last 9 games…Tyson Baillie has 7+14=21 in his last 11 games…Baillie had his eight game point streak snapped Wednesday. Baillie had (6+13=19) over that period …Dillon Dube has 8+10=18 in his last 9 games and has collected 15 points in his last eight games…Dillon Dube has points in 11 of 15 games this season….Lucas Johansen has four more point this season as he did all of last year…Nick Merkley has 5+10=15 in his last 10 games. Who’s Not: Tomas Soustal hasn’t scored in 10 straight games.