Friday, December 9, 2011

Shootout loss in Swift Current

Brett Bulmer showed a lot of character Friday night in Swift Current.
While his team gave up a 3-1 third period lead and eventually lost 4-3 in a shootout, Bulmer was at his best. On the eve of attending the Canadian World Junior Teams main camp in Calgary, the 19 year-old put on a dominating performance. Rather than coasting through his final game with his home club, Bulmer played hard, agitated and scored his 11th goal of the season in the one goal loss. On Friday night you saw the best of Brett Bulmer.

After dominating the majority of the second period, the Rockets generated just two shots in the third period as they were clinging to two goal lead. The Broncos, like the Rockets did in the second period, dictated the play with Taylor Vause scoring back-to-back goals to send the game into overtime. They went five shooters deep in the shootout before Broncos forward Adam Lowry won it by beating Adam Brown between the legs.

Rockets' d-man MacKenzie Johnston was named the games second star with a goal and an assist. The Swift Current resident, who had a loud cheering section, scored his first goal in 48 games when he blasted a shot from his own side of the blue line, beating Broncos goaltender Jon Groenheyde between the legs. Groenheyde was pulled after giving up that second goal. The pull was more out of injury as the 20 year-old seemed to be woozy after Rockets d-man Madison Bowey made contacted with him when the game was 1-1. Austin Smith came into the game in a relief appearance and stopped four of five shooters in the shootout.

Several of the Rockets plays complained of bumpy ice near the Broncos net during the shootout. Brett Bulmer was unable to get a lot of velocity on his shot while Shane McColgan uncharacteristically lost control of the puck on his deke attempt.

Despite the loss, the Rockets earned a point and now sit tied with Victoria for 6th place in the Western Conference. Up next is a date with Moose Jaw Saturday night.

No comments: