Sunday, October 14, 2007

Rockets 3 Game Winning Streak Snapped

  • In a sloppy affair, both teams struggled over the first 40 minutes, before getting their acts together and pouring on the gas when the game was tied in the third period. Both goaltenders made several key saves, including Rockets netminder Torrie Jung making a tremendous pad save on Chiefs forward Ryan Letts with the game tied at 1-1.
  • The game winning goal was scored when Rockets forward Lucas Bloodoff couldn't clear the zone, with what appeared to be a simple chip off the boards and out. Bloodoff was bodied off the puck, before Andrej Roman's point blast through a screen beat Torrie Jung to the glove hand side.
  • The Rockets as a group made some bad decisions with the puck. Cross ice passes through traffic, over-handling pucks, or sloppy clearing attempts made for a rough night in the defensive zone. Tyler Myers was often times his own worst enemy.
  • Speaking of Myers, he did get into a fight with Spokane leading scorer Drayson Bowman. Neither fight often, yet it was nice to see Myers take exception when Bowman bumped Jung while he was trying to play the puck behind the Rockets net.
  • Again Colin Long and Jamie Benn played well together with line-mate Brady Leavold. The chemistry that Long and Benn have built up really shows on the ice. Long's goal was as ugly as they come though, after he fanned on his shot towards the net, it somehow made it past a startled Dustin Tokarski.
  • Benn had an assist on Long's goal, extending his point streak to three games. Benn has 2+2=4 in 5 games this season.
  • Of the 9 games the Rockets have played this season, Colin Long has points in 6 of those games.
  • Brady Leavold got into his 3rd scrap in 5 games as a member of the Rockets. Leavold fought Cody Esposito in a first period tilt.
  • Torrie Jung was the surprise starter in goal for the Rockets. Kristofer Westblom was solid in three straight starts, yet the coaching staff went to Jung likely because of his better numbers against the Chiefs last season. Jung had a better goals against average and save percentage against Spokane than Westblom did a year ago.
  • I had a first hand look at 16 year-old Chiefs defenseman Jared Cowan. The WHL's top pick in the 2006 draft makes very few mistakes in his own zone, yet plays a very quiet game back on the blue-line. Unfortunately Rockets 16 year-old d-man Tyson Barrie was a late scratch with a hip flexor.
  • Things don't look good for forward Matt Brusciano. Brusciano, who has yet to play a game this season, again has re-occurring headaches suffered during a pre-season concussion. When he returns to practice is any ones guess.
  • The loss snapped the Rockets 3 game winning streak.
  • The Rockets host Everett Friday night, before facing the Chiefs again on home ice on Saturday.

2 comments:

Sir Loungealot said...

Thanks for the summary and analysis, Regan. I know it's a slow week and all, but sometimes it seems like you're the main source for anything news related to this team.

Too bad about the loss. I would have liked to have watched the game. Based on the score, shots, and the amount of penalties, it does look like it was a sloppy affair. It appears to me the penalties are what cost the team (weren't all of the goals pp?)

Let's hope the team gets back to the hard work and discipline that got them into the winner's bracket.

Regan Bartel said...

Hey hocus lopez. It's been pretty quiet around these parts with just one game on the weekend, and no hockey till Friday night. My mom always said, if you don't have anything good to say, don't say anything at all. Ok my mom didn't say that, but you get the drift.That's why I've been quiet for a few days. When a team is .500 you can't be too negative, or get too positive. I agree penalties have been a problem this season and the teams inablility to kill them off. In fact the Rockets have allowed a power play goal in every game this season, including two against Spokane Saturday night.