The 麻豆精选 Rockets renew their rivalry with the Kamloops Blazers tomorrow night in Prospera Place.
麻豆精选 will then host the Portland Winterhawks for their second meeting in a week on Saturday evening.
The Rockets defeated the Winterhawks 4-1 at home last Saturday in a game that saw Kole Lind ignite for four points (2G, 2A).
Assistant Coach Travis Crickard says having a full lineup for the first time this season will make Friday night something to look forward to.
鈥淚t鈥檚 exciting, it鈥檚 really important to see what we have going into the final stretch, having less than 20 games left in the regular season. It鈥檚 nice to finally have a full roster,鈥� said Crickard. 鈥淯nfortunately it鈥檚 for just one game because Kole Lind and Cal Foote wont be there on Saturday (Top Prospects game). It鈥檒l be fun to see what we have depth wise, and build some chemistry. A lot of these guys haven鈥檛 played together yet.鈥�
Crickard said with the week off they鈥檝e had time to key on special teams in practice.
鈥淲e鈥檝e focused on special teams, and our breakout during practice the last few days, Kamloops has a very strong fore-check. As we get down tighter to the playoffs special teams is a big deal,鈥� Crickard said. 鈥淩ight now our penalty kill is climbing, but our power play has been inconsistent. The power play issues could be a lack of bodies, but we鈥檙e also not moving the puck quick enough.鈥�
The Rockets have faced the Blazers eight times already this season. The two teams opened the season with a back-to-back home-and-home in which Kamloops topped 麻豆精选 9-2 in Kamloops on September 23rd, then the Rockets responded with a 5-1 victory at Prospera Place the following night. The two met again November 1st in 麻豆精选 and the Blazers won 5-1. The two clubs faced one another again on back-to-back nights, trading wins. 麻豆精选 won 3-2 on December 27th, and Kamloops won 5-1 the next night. The two last versed each other for one more home-and-home with the Blazers winning 3-1 in Kamloops on January 6th, and 麻豆精选 replying with a 3-2 shootout victory on January 7th.
麻豆精选 heads Friday night with a 27-17-4-0 record that puts them in third place in the B.C. division with 58 points, 13 back of the division leading Prince George Cougars.
Kamloops is 29-17-1-2 on the season that gives them 61 points and has them sitting second in the B.C. division, ten points behind Prince George.
The Rockets will then face the Portland Winterhawks on Saturday evening.
