Blazers provide reality check

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The Blazers skated faster, played more determined, and were full marks before a sellout crowd of over 5,300. The Rockets looked nothing like they did a week ago when they beat their arch-rivals by a score of 3-1.

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While some would summarize the Blazers as considerably better seven days later, it could also be suggested the Rockets were just worse.

Two penalties in the opening five minutes of the game only created momentum, before Blazers leading scorer Logan Stankoven found the back of the net on one of his game-high 12 shots on goal.

Before you could blink, on the very next shift, 20 seconds after Stankoven extended his point streak to 11 games, Fraser Minton turned on the red light and the visitors were chasing the game.

Before you knew it, the Blazers were up 3-0 in a span of just under three minutes, and by period’s end it was 4-0 with the shot clock heavily tilted at 15-3.

You had to wonder if the colossal damage had already been inflicted with still two periods left to be played.

Don’t be surprised at the Blazers opening period success. Twenty-seven of their goals this season have come in the opening 20 minutes, with only 13 generated in the second period by comparison. Quick starts are the norm for a team that won for the eighth time this season.

If you can stay ahead or even with them through the opening 20 minutes, your chances of success increase significantly.

A clear indication that a monumental comeback bid was not in the cards for the Rockets came early in the second period, while afforded a 5 on 3 for essentially 90 seconds, they couldn’t even generate a shot on goal.

When you look at the big picture, the Rockets have just one regulation win against the Blazers at Sandman Centre in their last 14 visits.

That win came in a 4-3 victory back on December 4, 2021.

Up until Andrew Cristall spoiled Dylan Ernst’s shutout bid in the third period with his team-leading 12th goal of the season, the Rockets had not scored a goal at Sandman Centre in eight consecutive periods dating back to last season.

It was a goalless drought of 190:20 seconds after back-to-back shutout losses (6-0 and 4-0) in their last two appearances in Kamloops dating back to last season.

The good news in all of this?

These two teams won’t see each other until December 28th, when the Rockets make a return visit to Sandman Centre.

The bad news?

The Blazers could look even better then as they bolster their roster for the 2023 Memorial Cup.