- Veteran goaltender Kris Lazaruk made 21 saves, earning his 7th career shutout and 4th of the season, in a 3-0 home ice win Friday night over the Spokane Chiefs. Lazaruk was named the games first star after making several key saves early in the game, including a nice pad save after defenseman Tysen Dowzak and forward Lukas Matejka misplayed the puck at the side of the Rockets goal.
- While Spokane goaltender James Reid will want the Rockets second goal back, he too made some big saves in this one. Reid's only mistake came when he attempted to catch a puck with his glove hand across his body from a shot off the stick of Brandon McMillan. In an ideal world, Reid would have simply used his blocker to direct the puck to the corner.
- For a second straight game forward Lucas Bloodoff scored twice. Bloodoff scored two goals in the Rockets 2-1 win over Prince George Tuesday night. When you're hot, you're hot.
- Hats off to Cody Almond for dominating at the face-off circle Friday night. I have no data to back up my claim, but Almond was sent out for every key draw, and won the majority of them. Cody Almond was the Rockets best forward, followed closely by McMillan and Lucas Bloodoff.
- The Rockets discipline was on display Friday night. The home team didn't take a minor penalty until rookie Shane McColgan took a roughing and high sticking penalty in the third and Brandon McMillan was sent to the box after firing the puck over the glass in the defensive zone.
- It sure looked odd, but it was nice to see. Defensive defenseman Tysen Dowzak was seen taking the puck behind his own goal, skating all the way up ice into Spokane's end before sending the puck towards the goal mouth where Lucas Bloodoff opened the scoring just 10 minutes into the game.
- Both teams were without several key players. Yet Spokane got some good efforts out of Seth Compton, Dustin Donaghy and defenseman Jared Cowan. Compton created several scoring chances while Donaghy led the physical parade. Cowan is just so good at moving the puck and recovering effortlessly if a miscue is made.
- The Rockets moved within a point of Spokane for third place in the Western Conference with the win.
- Moose Jaw Warriors GM Chad Lang again watched the Rockets in action rather than taking in the game between his Warriors and Kamloops down the road. Look for Lang to sell off some assets at the trade deadline.
- Rockets head coach Ryan Huska discusses the hockey fighting death of Whitby Dunlops defenseman Don Sanderson: www.am1150.ca/player/player?mediapath=&type=mp3&fi=files%2Fam1150%2Fsrimedia%2FR09_1137.MP3&nid=851917
- I spoke to Rockets forward Colin Long on the U.S.A's loss at the world junior hockey championships. www.am1150.ca/player/player?mediapath=&type=mp3&fi=files%2Fam1150%2Fsrimedia%2FR09_1128.MP3&nid=851918
- A conversation I had with Spokane defenseman Jared Spurgeon before the game:
Friday, January 2, 2009
7th Heaven For Lazaruk
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3 comments:
the game was really something tonight. until the 3rd i was amazed that we hadn't taken any penalties...not because the team as a whole takes many,but just a funny one even. lazaruk was fairly solid and bailed himself out on a few chances. being the first time i've seen mcolgan first hand he seems like he will have no trouble fitting in here,i didnt see adolph much it seemed.
i don't think those interviews were on there earlier. i'd like to add i agree with huska's comments but in all reality there are rules that are loosley enforced,maybe not rules,so much as conduct. scrums often happen in the heat of the moment,as huska commented on,but say the occasion happens that a fighter gets his helmet knocked off? then you're right in the same spot and the linesman cant just jump in with guys swinging. it's one of those things they can make rules about but i think it won't be as effective. also,the more rules fighting has,resulting in suspension and things will reduce it,and the more it's reduced,you're losing fan appeal. it'll be interesting to see how this tragedy is followed upon.
Nice win, even though it was against a depleted Chiefs squad. However, a win is a win. I expect the Rockets will continue their winning ways, and that they'll seriously callenge for the third spot in the Western Conf, and just maybe the top spot should the Giats stumble.
Nice sound bite by Long. I liked his mature/thoughtful respones to what could have been a platform for whining about being passed over. Really, that's exactly the kind of maturity/thoughtfulness that Team USA lacks.
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