GAME DAY: Rockets-Blazers Back in Action for Game 4
Rockets @ Blazers
Wednesday March 30, 2016
Game Time – 7:05 pm
Tonight’s Preview: It is game four of the Western Conference quarter final series between the Kelowna Rockets and Kamloops Blazers. The Rockets lead the best of seven series 2 games to 1 after a 1-0 win in game three last night at Memorial Arena. Game five is back in Kelowna Friday night. Essentially this series is now a best of five. The first team to win three games is off to round two. These two teams are meeting for the 6th time in the playoffs. They clashed in 1992, 1999, 2002, 2009, 2013 and now in 2016. In four of the five playoff meetings the series has lasted just four games. Only in 1999 did the series go six games with the Blazers prevailing four games to two.
What we’ve learned so far: The Rockets are 0 for 15 on the power play in the series. The Blazers are 3 for 14…The Rockets have opened the scoring in all three games…The Rockets have held identical 3-1 leads after 40 minutes in two of the three games…The Rockets have had the lead to start the third period in all three games…Three of the Blazers seven goals in the series have been scored in the final minute of the third period…Rockets regular season leading scorer Tyson Baillie has 0+1=1 in the first three games of this series. Blazers leading scorer Collin Shirley has 2+1=3 in the first three games…This is game 12 between these two teams. Ten of the eleven have been decided by a single goal.
Game Three Recap: Michael Herringer made 40 saves in the Rockets 1-0 win over the Blazers. Justin Kirkland scored the game winning goal less than two minutes into the second period. The Rockets were 0 for 5 on the power play while the Blazers were 0 for 4.
Game Two Recap: The Kelowna Rockets built up a 3-1 third period lead only to allow four-third period goals in a 5-4 loss. Rourke Chartier, Tomas Soustal with two and Rodney Southam with a shorthanded goal scored in a losing cause. The Rockets were 0 for 5 on the power play and surrendered three power play goals. It marked the first time this season the Rockets lost in regulation time when leading after 40 minutes.
Game One Recap: Lucas Johansen scored twice leading the Kelowna Rockets to a 3-2 win. Dillon Dube and Johansen scored goals 47 seconds apart in the second period to take a 3-0 lead. The Blazers would fight back when Gage Quinney scored to make it a 3-1 game after 40 minutes. With the goaltender pulled for the extra attacker, Collin Shirley would find the back of the net to make it a one goal game. The Rockets were 0 for 3 on the power play while going 3 for 3 on the penalty kill. Michael Herringer made 19 saves while Blazers goaltender Connor Ingram made 33 stops.
Rockets.Blazers Seasonal Series: The Rockets and Blazers met eight times this season with the Rockets going 5-2-1-0. The Rockets won the first five games before the Blazers won the last three meetings. Tyson Baillie led the Rockets with 6+6=12 in the eight games in the seasonal series. Tomas Soustal had 7+1=8 in the 8 games. The Rockets opened the scoring in five of the eight games. The Rockets out-shot the Blazers in 6 of the 8 games. Overall, the defending champions out-scored their BC Division rivals 27-22.
Number Crunching: Tyson Baillie has 49 games of playoff experience, the most on the Rockets roster…Baillie has 23+31=54 in those 49 games…Cole Linaker is next with 47 playoff games under his belt…Tyler Mosienko is the franchise leader in playoff games played with 81 …Michael Herringer is 5-1-0-0 in the WHL playoffs with a goals against average of 2.16. Herringer won series clinching games over Tri City, Victoria and Portland in last year’s post season…. The Rockets reached the 100 point mark for a fourth consecutive season and 6th time in franchise history. The team accomplished the goal in 2002-2003 (109), 2004-2005 (104), 2012-2013 (108), 2013-2014 (118) and 2014-2015 (109)…Devante Stephens was the only Kelowna Rockets player to participate in all 72 regular season games this season…The Rockets have out-shot the opponent in 11 of the last 13 games.… …Tyson Baillie has been named a Western Conference first team all-star…The Rockets handed out its season ending awards. Tyson Baillie was named MVP. Joe Gatenby was the top defenceman. Cal Foote was the rookie of the year. Cole Linaker was the top defensive forward for a third straight season. Rourke Chartier was the sportsmanlike player of the year for a third consecutive season. Foote was the scholastic player of the year. Justin Kirkland was the unsung hero. The humanitarian award went to Riley Stadel.
