Kelowna Rockets, Everett Silvertips face off as both teams chase 1st place in their divisions
Kelowna hosting Everett with both teams in position to catch respective division leaders
The Kelowna Rockets host the Everett Silvertips tonight at Prospera Place as each team looks to catch first place in their respective divisions.
The last time these two teams met was on March 3, when Kelowna visited Everett and stole two points with a 3-2 shootout victory over Carter Hart and the ’Tips. Michael Herringer stopped 34-of-36 shots that night, as well as all six shootout attempts.
When asked if the Rockets needed another big performance out of Herringer — like they got last time — head coach Jason Smith said he just needs his goalie to keep doing what he’s doing.
“Goaltending is key,” said Smith. “When you’re getting good goaltending you’ve got a chance in every game. If he gives us a chance to win the game, that’s all you can ask and then it’s up to the players in front of him to defend and create offence.
“But if your goalie is giving you that opportunity to be in the game, he’s doing his job.”
The Rockets have the most potent offence in the Western Conference, scoring 270 goals so far this season.
Everett, on the other hand, has the stingiest defence in the entire league — allowing just 158 goals thus far.
Smith says his club needs to make sure it gets pucks deep and the offence will follow.
“It starts with getting the puck into the O-zone, followed by executing at a high level. We can’t turn down shots and we need to get pucks and bodies to the net,” Smith said.
Kelowna has 91 points on the year, good for second place in the B.C. Division — only two points back of the first-place Prince George Cougars and only three points ahead of the Kamloops Blazers, although the Rockets hold a game in hand on both.
Everett sits second in the U.S. Division with 93 points, only one point back of the first-place Seattle Thunderbirds but 11 points ahead of the third-place Portland Winterhawks.
The top five Western Conference teams are all jammed within six points of each other with the regular season wrapping up on Sunday.
Seattle leads the pack with 94 points, then Everett and Prince George each have 93, Kelowna has 91 and Kamloops has 88. Following tonight’s game, the Rockets are back in action on Friday night, St. Patrick’s Day, to host the Vancouver Giants in the final regular season home game for Kelowna.
It’s Jersey off the Back night, so everyone who has entered the draw this season has a chance at taking home a special edition Rockets jersey. There’s also a puck toss courtesy of BRP and Banner Recreation and Marine — the first 6,000 fans in the building get a free puck to toss for the chance to win a 2016 Can-Am Outlander 450L DPS valued at over $7,599.
That game is being broadcast on Sportsnet so there will be a 7:35pm puck drop.