Don't Touch The Golf Clubs

• The best move Tyler Myers, Jamie Benn and Stepan Novotny made Wednesday night in their first game back after attending the world juniors was not touching the golf clubs. Benn, Myers, athletic therapist Jeff Thorburn and Novotny were all presented with custom made golf clubs in a pre-game ceremony for their efforts in Ottawa. Some suggest that it's a curse for a hockey player to even touch golf clubs at this time of the year. It's only players that fail to make the playoffs that get their golf clubs out for a long summer on the links.
• The gesture was another class act on behalf of the Rockets organization.
• The opening ceremonies may have given the home team the jump. The Rockets dominated the opening period, yet the two teams skated into the dressing room tied at two. Turnovers by Rockets veteran defenseman Tysen Dowzak and Tyler Myers resulted in the only two Seattle goals.
• Rockets goaltender Adam Brown couldn't be faulted by giving up either T-Bird goal. Brown earned his 12th win of the season and is clearly making a statement that he is capable of taking the #1 goaltending duties away from perceived starter Kris Lazaruk.
• Would the Rockets be crazy to head into the playoffs with a 17 year-old goaltender? The Vancouver Giants did it with Tysen Sexsmith and won a WHL title.
• Stepan Novotny was the best player who returned from the world juniors. Novotny showed no fatigue, scoring a beautiful goal to give the Rockets a 4-2 lead. Novotny ended the game with a goal and an assist. Novotny will play Friday against the Portland Winter Hawks. The coaching staff say Novotny won't see much practice time over the next couple of days but will be a regular in the Rockets lineup.
• Benn and Myers now have a five day break before returning to the team before next Wednesday's home game against the Tri City Americans.
• I don't know how many people approached me before the game wanting to know if Mikael Backlund is officially a Kelowna Rocket. An announcement is expected tomorrow giving me the general impression that Backlund could be in the lineup as early as Friday. If I hear anything, I'll post it here.
• The T-Birds played this game without Jim O'Brien and Thomas Hickey. The two were given time off after participating at the world juniors. The two are expected in the lineup on the weekend for back-to-back home games.
• Because the T-Birds were short staffed, they elected to play defenseman Sena Acolatse as a forward. Without Hickey, it also forced the T-Birds to use two forwards on defense on the power play.
• The T-Birds were either very disciplined or referee Derek Zalaski missed several infractions. I believe it was a combination of the two as the T-Birds granted the Rockets just one power play chance.
• Tyson Barrie's first period goal was his first even strength goal of the season.
• What's the good news about not scoring on the power play? Four players were a +3 in the game. Lucas Bloodoff, Collin Bowman, Stepan Novotny and Tyson Barrie all enjoyed the statistic.
• Cody Almond and Lucas Bloodoff each had a goal and two assists in the teams 24th win of the season and 16th on home ice.
• I almost failed to mention. The Rockets beat Seattle 5-2.