Rockets driving for 5 straight wins over visiting Cougars
Last-place Prince George visiting 1st-place Kelowna
The Kelowna Rockets will take on the Prince George Cougars tonight at Prospera Place for the first time since late November.
Rockets goalie coach Adam Brown says despite some recent setbacks, the message to the team remains the same. “We just need to continue worrying about our game and what we’re doing out there,” Brown said. “We’d like to get points every night, but we’re worried about preparing our team for this last stretch of games before playoffs ultimately. As long as we stick to the process and we take care of our game and get back to moving our feet and putting in a 60-minute effort, then we’ll be OK.”
Tonight’s tilt will be the fifth of eight meetings this season between the two teams. The Rockets have had success against the Cougars so far this season, winning all four contests.
Kelowna traveled to Prince George on Oct. 6 in what was a high-scoring affair. Dillon Dube led the way with a goal and three assists, while Kole Lind scored to tie the game late in the third and then again in overtime to give the Rockets a 7-6 win.
The teams were back in action the following night, Oct. 7, when Dube put up another four points (1G, 3A) including the overtime winner to give Kelowna a 4-3 victory.
The Cougars came to Prospera Place on Oct. 28 and this time it was James Porter’s turn to shine. Porter stopped 27 shots — including a penalty shot early in the second period — to lead the Rockets to a 4-2 win.
The Rockets hosted the Cougars again on Nov. 29 when Kelowna jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first period. Carsen Twarynski scored twice in the opening frame and then completed the hat-trick in the second period to lead the Rockets to a 5-3 triumph.
The Rockets will travel to Prince George to take on the Cougars again next Tuesday and Wednesday. The teams will finish off their season series on March 14 when the Cougars come back to Prospera Place.
The Rockets go into tonight’s game with a 35-18-4-2 record. Kelowna’s 76 points are one better than the Victoria Royals for first in the B.C. Division. The Royals have played two more games than the Rockets.
The Vancouver Giants currently sit third in the division with 70 points.
Kelowna sits five points back of the Everett Silvertips for top spot in the Western Conference standings.
Prince George is sporting a 20-30-4-4 record for 48 points. The Cougars are fifth in the B.C. Division, nine points back of the Kamloops Blazers for fourth. Prince George also sits last in the Western Conference, one spot behind Kamloops for ninth. Tonight’s puck-drop is 7:05 p.m. The Rockets will conclude a four-game homestand with a weekend doubleheader. The Seattle Thunderbirds will be here on Friday, followed by Kamloops on Saturday. Both weekend games also start at 7:05 p.m.
Lind, who has been sidelined by an upperbody injury since taking a high, hard hit from Victoria’s Ralph Jarratt on Feb. 12, continues to lead Kelowna in scoring with 78 points (31G, 47A).
Dube is second with 59 points (27G, 32A) in just 41 games after captaining Canada at the World Juniors, while Twarynski is third with 58 points, including a team-high 35 goals.