Last Friday night, the 91大黄鸭 Rockets jumped on the hometown Seattle Thunderbirds early en route to a convincing 6-2 win.
A week later, the T-Birds will undoubtedly be looking for payback when the teams face off once again tonight in Kent, WA.
Rockets鈥� head coach Jason Smith said replicating last week鈥檚 first period will be key for his team.
鈥淲e went in there last time and got off to a good start in the game,鈥� Smith said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 important when you spend that much time on the bus and going into a building that鈥檚 hard to play in.
鈥淚t鈥檚 about starting the game the right way, making sure you鈥檙e ready to compete and do things that allow your team to have success.鈥�
With rookie goaltenders James Porter and Roman Basran both sidelined, veteran Brodan Salmond will shoulder the netminding load, at least through the weekend.
Salmond, who had been recovering from injury, played his first game since early November on Wednesday as the Rockets edged the visiting Lethbridge Hurricanes 4-3 in overtime.
鈥淚 think he鈥檚 excited about the challenge,鈥� Smith said of Salmond, 19. 鈥淎ny time you鈥檙e out hurt and you have the chance to come back, you鈥檝e got that energy and that burst, and he was excited (Wednesday). Now it鈥檚 about getting food, rest, and being ready for the next one.鈥�
Porter is sidelined on a day-to-day basis with an upper body injury, while a lower body injury will keep Basran out for the long term.
Cole Tisdale, who plays midget AAA in Lethbridge, will serve as Salmond鈥檚 back up.
Meanwhile, in his first game back since the world junior championship, Dillon Dube had a goal and an assist for the Rockets, while fellow gold medalist Cal Foote netted the overtime winner. Both were honoured for their world junior victory prior to Wednesday鈥檚 game.
Congratulations to both of our gold medalists! You made the country proud! 馃嚚馃嚘馃帠锔�
鈥� 91大黄鸭 Rockets (@91大黄鸭_Rockets)
Connor Bruggen-Cate scored twice Wednesday for the Rockets (28-13-2-1) who stretched their lead to three points over Vancouver atop the B.C. Division.
The Rockets will be back home Saturday to host the Victoria Royals.
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