Almost a week off between games was just what the doctor ordered for the 麻豆精选 Rockets.
The WHL club will have close to a clean bill of health in time for 贵谤颈诲补测鈥檚 matchup against the B.C. Division rival Kamloops Blazers. Face-off at Prospera Place is 7:05 p.m.
Forwards Reid Gardiner, Dillon Dube and Nolan Foote are all expected back in the lineup after dealing with various ailments.
鈥泪迟鈥檚 been good to have the time 辞蹿蹿,鈥� said 搁辞肠办别迟蝉鈥� general manager Bruce Hamilton. 鈥淗补惫颈苍驳 those guys back gets us back close to full strength at an important time of the 蝉别补蝉辞苍.鈥�
Gardiner, who the Rockets acquired prior to the trade deadline from the Prince Albert Raiders, suffered an upper body injury after colliding with teammate Calvin Thurkauf on Jan. 16 in Everett and sat out the last three games.
Dube missed the 迟别补尘鈥檚 last two games with strep-throat and has been home recovering with his family in Calgary.
Foote, 16, has been out since Jan. 4, a span of eight games, with an illness.
鈥�(狈辞濒补苍) had mono early in the season, so his system was compromised and 丑别鈥檚 had trouble kicking this last 产耻驳,鈥� Hamilton said. 鈥淲别鈥檝别 been very careful with him and are making sure 丑别鈥檚 ready before bringing him 产补肠办.鈥�
With a third of the regular season remaining, the Rockets (27-17-4-0) are just three points back of the rival Blazers (29-16-1-2) for second spot, and technically still within striking distance of the B.C. Division-leading Prince George Cougars (34-13-3-0).
While Hamilton would like his team to be better-positioned at this stage of the season, he said 迟丑别谤别鈥檚 still time to make up some key ground within both the division and conference.
鈥泪 think 飞别鈥檝别 let some games get away from us and 迟丑补迟鈥檚 been 蹿谤耻蝉迟谤补迟颈苍驳,鈥� said Hamilton. 鈥淏耻迟 once we have everybody back and playing 飞别鈥檒濒 get a better understanding of how prepared our players are to step up to the wall and get it done.
鈥淲别 also have a rookie coach who is learning his way, so we have to make sure everybody is pulling in the same 诲颈谤别肠迟颈辞苍.鈥�
The Rockets will host the Portland Winterhawks on Saturday night.
