Since the third weekend of October, Prospera Place hasn害羞草研究所檛 been a particularly charitable environment for opponents of the
Jason Smith害羞草研究所檚 squad will be looking to run its home-ice unbeaten string to seven games Friday night when the Lethbridge Hurricanes pay their lone visit of the season to Kelowna.
For the first month of the 2017-18 season, the Rockets struggled to find their rhythm at home, winning just once (1-3-0-1) in their first five tries.
With six straight victories since on Prospera ice, Smith said the Rockets (11-6-2-1) are being rewarded for committing to more thorough, workmanlike efforts.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 nice to win at home, we didn害羞草研究所檛 start the year off as well as we would have liked to here,害羞草研究所� said Smith, the Rockets害羞草研究所� second year bench boss. 害羞草研究所淚 think the guys have bunkered in and we害羞草研究所檝e played some complete games. I think early in the year at home we played bits and parts of games.
害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檝e played better lately where we害羞草研究所檝e played for close to 60 minutes,害羞草研究所� he added, 害羞草研究所渙r as much of that as we need to to win the game.害羞草研究所�
In the Hurricanes (7-10-1-0), the Rockets will see a scaled down version of last year害羞草研究所檚 44-win team, one that no longer features the likes of all-star Tyler Wong (109 points) and defenseman Brennan Menell (71 points).
Still, Smith said underestimating Lethbridge would be a mistake.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 another challenge for us,害羞草研究所� Smith said. 害羞草研究所淭hey害羞草研究所檙e obviously a team that害羞草研究所檚 gone through a little bit of change, but they compete and they skate and they害羞草研究所檝e got a really good goaltender (Stuart Skinner). We害羞草研究所檙e going to have to make sure we害羞草研究所檙e focused, ready to play and playing as five guys on the ice.害羞草研究所�
On Wednesday night, the Rockets made it 3-for-3 on their current homestand with a 5-2 win over the Edmonton Oil Kings.
While veterans Dillon Dube and Carsen Twarynski scored twice each to lead the charge, Smith said the win was largely the result of another full team effort.
害羞草研究所淚 think the positive thing (against Edmonton) was every line had some opportunities in the O-zone, they were competing and moving the puck around,害羞草研究所� Smith said. 害羞草研究所淲hen you get contributions from your whole lineup it gives you an opportunity to have success.害羞草研究所�
James Porter stopped 21 Edmonton shots in the Rockets害羞草研究所� net to record his fourth straight win and eighth of the season.
The Rockets will be in Vancouver Saturday to take on the Giants, then will head to Spokane for their first meeting of the season against Dan Lambert害羞草研究所檚 Chiefs on Wednesday night.
Kelowna害羞草研究所檚 next home action is Saturday, Nov. 25 vs Medicine Hat.
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