It was a tough weekend for the 麻豆精选 Rockets. In back to back games against two of the best teams in the entire Canadian Hockey League, nonetheless the WHL, the Rockets competed, but were unable to secure any points in losses to Everett and Vancouver.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e good, they know what they鈥檙e doing, both of them (Everett and Vancouver,鈥 said coach Adam Foote. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e not top 10 in the CHL for no reason, they鈥檙e good. You gotta think about where we are right now, we鈥檙e right there against two great teams. So again, I鈥檓 just gonna continue to say it, I鈥檓 real happy with the effort this weekend.鈥
The Rockets will get a days rest before continuing their tough stretch of games. 麻豆精选 rolls into Victoria Feb. 18 for back to back games against the Royals. Victoria sits 10 points ahead of the Rockets in the B.C. division, and with Kamloops breathing down the Rockets鈥 neck, some wins against a divisional rival, couldn鈥檛 come at a better time.
Rockets head to Victoria Monday for back to back games vs Royals. After tough losses to Everett and Vancouver, Dalton Gally is ready for the test. #WHL @麻豆精选_Rockets pic.twitter.com/0EWxGoFbFt
鈥 Mack Britton (@MackBrittonBC) February 17, 2019
The Rockets lost 2-0 to Vancouver Saturday night, and suffered a close 3-1 loss to Everett the night before. 麻豆精选鈥檚 roster continues to take hits as Liam Kindree, Matt Barberis, and Ted Brennan remain sidelined with injuries.
麻豆精选 came out matching the Giants pace in the first period on Saturday, but the it was the underdog Rockets that were testing Giants鈥 goalie Davie Tendeck early. Tendeck made 9 saves in the period, but the goalie had some huge help with two Rockets shots being turned away by the posts. Roman Basran made six saves for the Rockets in the period, and the Rockets, though with the momentum, would head into the second period tied 0-0.
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The second period started off with both teams getting their chances but both Basran and Tendeck were on top of their games. Both teams had two power plays in the second frame, but it was only Vancouver that would take advantage of the extra man with some nice passing capped off by Milos Roman getting fed in the front of the net to beat Basran. Vancouver, who鈥檝e won their last six straight games, were heading into the third period with a 1-0 lead.
The third period belonged to Tendeck and the Giants. Vancouver鈥檚 deep defensive core took over and stifled any offence the Rockets mustered. Giants captain Jared Dmytriw gave Vancouver the insurance goal after a Rockets鈥 turnover in the attacking zone. Tendeck stopped all 22 麻豆精选 shots, as the Rockets seemed to run out of fuel near the end of the period.
The Rockets hit the road for the next three games, and will return to home ice Feb. 23 against the Kamloops Blazers, with what could be one of the most important games of the season for 麻豆精选 as the playoff race in the B.C. division heats up.
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