PREVIEW: Rockets and Giants set to tangle Wednesday
By Doyle Potenteau – Dubnation.com
With just two points separating the Kelowna Rockets and Vancouver Giants, it doesn’t take a scientist to figure out that Wednesday night’s meeting between the two provincial rivals is important.
With 65 points, the Giants (30-21-1-4) can increase their lead to four in B.C. Division standings with a win over the Rockets (31-23-0-1) tomorrow. Conversely, if Kelowna wins, the Rockets will not only be level on points with the Giants, but they’ll also take over the division lead, courtesy of more wins.
Looking long term, though, there’s still plenty of hockey to be played before the playoffs start in roughly a month’s time, and Wednesday’s game is just one of four head-to-head matches left between the Giants and Rockets. The next one is Saturday night, in Kelowna, and that, too, will be hyped a must-win scenario for both teams, as was their last meeting, a 7-3 home-ice victory for the Rockets on Jan. 29.
“For us, we know we didn’t play well against Kelowna in the last game,” said Giants head coach Don Hay, whose team is on a roll right now, having gone 8-2-0-0 in its past 10 games. “We’d like to play better against Kelowna than we did in their building. And I’d be lying if I said we didn’t want to win first-place in the B.C. Division because I think it’s important to get home-ice advantage.
“All the teams (in the division) are really tight right now, and all the games are very important. And no matter who you’re playing, or when you’re playing, you want to be playing well going into the playoffs, you want to be at the top of your game.”
While there’s only a slim margin between Vancouver and Kelowna, the gap is slightly wider between the division’s three other teams, though not by much. Third-place Prince George (59 points) trails Kelowna by four, while fourth-place Chilliwack (52) is in a race for the Western Conference’s last playoff spot with fifth-and-last place Kamloops (51), as are U.S. Division teams Everett (55) and Seattle (49).
“Teams have started to separate, but you still have to earn your points,” said Hay. “I think anybody is capable of beating someone else on any given day. And because of that, you almost have to be in playoff mode right now to understand the urgency of the games. You have to play with that urgency to have success.”
That urgency has been Vancouver’s key to success in why the Giants have won five consecutive B.C. Division pennants and are now seeking their sixth. Notably, Kelowna has finished second four times. Yet, that Vancouver is in the running again underscores Hay’s ability to motivate despite having one of his assistant coaches, John Becanic, leave in mid-December to become the head coach of the North American Hockey League’s Wenatchee Wild. Becanic’s departure meant a bigger workload for Hay, who has since relished working longer hours.
“It’s been fine,” said Hay. “And you know what? I’ve actually enjoyed the extra work . . . maybe I gave up too much work (to Becanic) at the start. But I love being involved in all aspects, and with John leaving us, (assistant coach Chad Scharff) and I have really dug in here, and we’ve gotten some help from (skills consultant) Yogi Svejkovsky. So, basically, we’re back to where we were last season with the coaches.”
ICE CHIPS: After visiting Vancouver, the Rockets will host the Spokane Chiefs (34-16-4-2) on Friday night, then Vancouver on Saturday. Both games feature 7 p.m. starts. . . . The Giants, meanwhile, will host Seattle (20-28-4-5) on Friday. . . . Injured players or otherwise for Kelowna, as of Tuesday: D Colton Jobke (has served two games of seven-game suspension), D Mitchell Chapman (concussion), LW Jason Siebert (wrist, 2 weeks), LW Brett Bulmer (day to day), RW Mitchell Callahan (head, day-to-day) and RW Jessey Astles (shoulder, 1-2 weeks). Vancouver: D Joel Rogers (concussion, day-to-day), LW Marek Tvrdon (shoulder, season-ending) and LW James Henry (knee, week-to-week). . . . The eight-game season series between Kelowna and Vancouver is tied at 2-2. . . . Kelowna is 6-3-0-1 in its past 10 games. . . . The Rockets are 14-13 in road games, while the Giants are 14-8-1-3 at home. . . . . Vancouver is 13-3-0-2 and 22-0-0-2 when leading after the first and second periods, respectively. Kelowna is 13-3-0-1 and 22-3-0-1. . . . Kelowna’s top five scorers are RW Shane McColgan (19-35-54), Brett Bulmer (18-29-47), Mitchell Callahan (19-27-46), D Tyson Barrie (8-37-45) and LW Zach Franko (15-28-43). Vancouver’s top scorers are RW Brendan Gallagher (38-36-74), LW Spencer Bennett (27-27-54), D Neil Manning (11-31-42), C Brendan Rowinski (14-19-33) and James Henry (11-17-28).
