Since the third week of October, Prospera Place hasn鈥檛 been a particularly hospitable setting for opponents of the 麻豆精选 Rockets.
Led by Carsen Twarynski鈥檚 hat trick, the Rockets extended their home-ice winning streak to nine games with a 5-3 victory Wednesday over the Prince George Cougars.
Twarynski, 20, connected for his first of the night 4:01 into the game on a power play to put the Rockets on top. Dillon Dube then upped 麻豆精选鈥檚 lead to two just four minutes later and the Rockets were off and running.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 what we were aiming to do was have a good start, we鈥檝e been trying to do that the last couple of games,鈥� said Twarynski. 鈥淲e鈥檝e been pretty good the last little stretch for the most part but tonight was a really good first period and that helped us win the game, so that was key for us.鈥�
The hat trick gave Twarynski 18 goals for the season, just two short of his career high with the Calgary Hitmen during the 2015-16 season.
Dube鈥檚 goal, a shorthanded effort, was of the highlight-reel variety as he dangled through four Cougar defenders, then ripped a shot past Isaiah DiLaura for his 15th of the season.
And Dr. Dube made some magic happen with this beautiful shorty #Dubes #WHLRockets #KELvsPG #bingo 馃殌馃悏 pic.twitter.com/UAawyJdElt
鈥� 麻豆精选 Rockets (@麻豆精选_Rockets) November 30, 2017
Captain Cal Foote also scored for the Rockets who haven鈥檛 lost at Prospera Place since a 3-1 setback to Portland on Oct. 20.
鈥淭he guys obviously really enjoy playing here,鈥� Rockets head coach Jason Smith said of his team鈥檚 success at home. 鈥淲e鈥檝e started games well at home which makes it a lot easier, I think if we can continue to come out of the gates and do things the right way off the start of the game, then it really gives you a chance.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a hard place to play and when teams come in and get behind early, it gives us a real good opportunity to win.鈥�
Down 5-1, the Cougars beat James Porter twice in the game鈥檚 final three minutes. Porter stopped 26 shots in the 麻豆精选 net for his 11th win of the season.
The Rockets (15-8-2-1) will head out on the road Friday when they visit Dan Lambert and the Spokane Chiefs.
麻豆精选 returns home Saturday to take on the Kootenay Ice on the annual Teddy Bear Toss night at Prospera Place. Face off is 7:05 p.m.
Lind nears return鈥�
Kole Lind, who has been sidelined for the last two weeks, is expected back in the Rockets鈥� lineup in the near future, possibly as early Saturday night at home against the Kootenay Ice.
Rockets GM Bruce Hamilton confirmed Wednesday that the 19-year-old forward, who hasn鈥檛 played since Nov. 14, has been battling mononucleosis.
With Canada鈥檚 world junior selection camp roster to be announced on Monday, Hamilton said hopefully the diagnosis will give Lind a chance to be in the running.
鈥淗e鈥檚 likely at the very end stages (of mono) and they鈥檝e cleared him to play,鈥� said Hamilton. 鈥淜ole will be able to play on the first two games of our Prairie trip for sure. It鈥檚 been a long, challenging test here for him.
鈥淔ortunately for him and for us, that鈥檚 likely going to still give him an opportunity to be in the running to be invited to the world junior camp which was probably first and foremost in his mind, to still be on that list.鈥�
