Rockets attempt to deliver knockout punch

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“We have confidence that we can beat any team and be in every game,” Wightman added when asked about why his team has been able to win five of its last six games, after two victories to close out the regular season against the Vancouver Giants, and now up three games to one in their opening-round playoff series with the Wenatchee Wild. “Confidence is big for our team because we have had those swings [highs and lows], knowing that when we have a lead we can keep it, and when we are down, we can come back.”

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Wightman is having success in this series with the Wild, playing alongside Ty Hurley and Luke Schelter.

“Guys are stepping up at the right time of the year,” he said. “Guys are taking that next step to make us successful, and that is four lines and six defensemen going. Everybody is buying into a team game, where it took us a little bit to get there in the last month, but we’ve bought into that allowing us to roll four lines and wear teams down.”

The intensity on the ice continues to increase between these two teams, with game five slated for tonight at the Town Toyota Center (104.7 The Lizard has the pre-game show at 6:35 pm), where neither team is giving an inch.

“When you see a team on back-to-back night’s, the aggression gets up there,” Wightman admitted. “As the series goes on, you get more inter-personal rivalries. Tensions are high when the pressure is at its highest and guys are quicker to lose their temper.”

The tension on the ice only increases as the stakes get higher.

“There is more pressure leading into the games,” Wightman said. “Once you start playing, it is just another hockey game. The games have been close. We haven’t gone into overtime yet, and as a series gets down to elimination games, that is when the pressure starts to ramp up.”

Riding a three-game playoff winning streak, closing out a series is never easy. Wightman knows getting the clinching game on the road will take a massive effort.

“When you face a team with their back against the wall, it is hard to get them out,” he said.

“We have never been in this position before. Me personally, I have never been in this position before, but it is a much nicer feeling than the last couple of years.”