‘It is a big four-points’ – Rockets AC Derrick Martin

Though excuses aren’t tolerated within the organization, the mental challenge of playing a third game in three nights, traveling, and facing two of the top teams in the Western Conference, including a 4-1 loss Friday in Everett, was significant.

“We jumped in and got to work early on,” Martin continued. “We got pucks behind them, got in on the forecheck. I think our d-zone coverage has come a long way in the last 10 days, and we are able to get pucks into the hands of our skilled forwards and let them do the heavy lifting up the ice.”

Cristall certainly did the heavy lifting, scoring twice in both games on the Island. His performance helped him reach the 50-point mark on the season, and with 331 career points, he’s just two shy of passing John Varga for second place on the franchise’s all-time scoring list.

“Our young guys have come a long way in the last month,” Martin said. “The future is bright with this hockey club.”

A highlight of the weekend came from rookie Connor Pankratz, who opened the scoring in Sunday’s game with a well-placed wrist shot. The West Vancouver native’s first WHL goal came in front of familiar faces, adding to the team’s success.

“We have a lot of young guys going through milestones and learning curves,” Martin said. “It was an opportunity for him to play close to home and get it [the goal] in front of family and friends. He has done the work to deserve it, so we are happy for him.”

With the team set to lose four players to the World Junior Hockey Championships in Ottawa—two to Team Canada and two to Team Czechia—the Rockets’ defensive play will become even more crucial.

“In Saturday’s game we had to rely heavily on [goaltender] Rhett Stoesser, and ‘Peels’ [Jake Pilon] just picked up where he left off,” Martin said. “I thought we played a sound game in front of him, but in the moments we needed him, you need your goalie to make a save, outside of a four-on-three power play.”

Pilon’s play has improved significantly since the release of Jari Kykkanen on November 22, as the 18-year-old appears intent on challenging for the starting job while improving his stock for next June’s NHL Draft.

“We have done a lot of work on our defensive coverage,” Martin admitted when asked about the team allowing only three goals against in the two games vs. the Royals. “There weren’t a lot of opportunities when they [Royals] were rolling up high where we gave them looks down low at the net. Our d-men are doing a good job at the net front, and then our forwards are doing a good job of sorting that out, and we are blocking a lot of shots.”

The weekend sweep provided critical points in the standings, and after a disappointing loss to Portland the previous week, the Rockets were determined not to let this opportunity slip away.

“We thought we let a game get away in Portland last Friday, and we didn’t want that same feeling today,” Martin said. “These are big points and big weekends when you are playing a divisional opponent inside a really good division.”

“It now clogs up the standings, and that was the goal. It is a big four-points.”

by Regan Bartel

‘It is a big four-points’ – Rockets AC Derrick Martin

Comments

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

What's Trending