DUBNetwork Feature Game of the Night: Thunderbirds @ Rockets 7:05 PM PST
In the midst of one of the biggest days of the calendar year for Mental Health, we preview the Kelowna Rockets who play host to the Seattle Thunderbirds in their fourth meeting of the season. These teams although in different divisions could potentially be together competing for a Wild Card spot in the Western Conference if the Kamloops Blazers or the Prince George Cougars catch up to the Rockets for third place in the BC Division.
The Seattle Thunderbirds (18-22-5-1) are coming off a win against Kamloops on Sunday when Matthew Wedman scored two goals and had an assist to earn him first star honours in the T-Birds 18th win of the season. Seattle has been on some kind of comeback of late, coming from the bottom of the Western Conference now into a playoff spot after getting those two big points against the Blazers. Tonight’s game is big for Seattle for making ground on the Blazers who sit just one point back of the last playoff spot in the west. The ‘Birds are 2-1-0-0 against Kelowna this season, outscoring the opponent 14-10 in the trio of games.
The Kelowna Rockets (20-24-3-1) are on a bit of a slide right now as they are just 3-7-0-0 in their last ten games, making the BC Division just that much tighter as just nine points separates second from fourth. 15-year-old Trevor Wong is set to suit up for the Rockets tonight his second in the WHL. The d-man was selected 18th overall in the 2018 Bantam Draft and has 31 points in 28 games with the Greater Vancouver Canadians of the BC Major Midget League this season. The Rockets have had troubles against the American WHL teams this season, only posting a 5-7-0-0 record against them. Maybe tonight the Rockets will be able to snap out of a rough stretch of games at home, falling in three of their last four games at Prospera Place.
Who to watch:
- Matthew Wedman (SEA) 21G, 25A- Wedman is just one point shy of matching his career high of 47 set last season, he has five points in his last two games coming in.
- Leif Mattson (KEL) 18G, 29A- Mattson has flourished over the last handful of games, has eight points over his last four games, last game assisting on all three of Kelowna’s goals in a shootout win in Vancouver.
Expected goalies:
- Roddy Ross (SEA) 2.353 GAA, .921 SV%- What a story Ross has been since joining Seattle, he has almost single handedly changed the team, posting a 5-1 record when in goal.
- Roman Basran (KEL) 3.014 GAA, .902 SV%- Rookie Basran has been consistent of late, hasn’t allowed more than three goals in his last three starts.
Other games to watch:
Calgary Hitmen (24-19-3-1) @ Swift Current Broncos (10-34-2-1)
- Only the 2nd meeting of the season, the teams last ten games is exactly opposite Calgary is 7-3-0-0 and Swift Current is 3-7-0-0
Brandon Wheat Kings (20-19-3-4) @ Red Deer Rebels (28-15-2-1)
- Brandon sits five points back of a Wild Card spot coming in, with a Hitmen win tonight they would be seven points out, tonight’s meeting with Red Deer becomes that much more important after a shootout loss in Edmonton last night.
Vancouver Giants (31-12-2-1) @ Kamloops Blazers (19-25-2-1)
- A big BC Division matchup, Kamloops trying to claw back at Kelowna for third in the division while Vancouver is now only seven points back of Everett for first in the west.
Portland Winterhawks (30-13-3-2) @ Spokane Chiefs (24-17-2-3)
- The Cody Glass’less Winterhawks take on a struggling Spokane team who only has one point in their last five games going 0-4-0-1 in that stretch.
