Blazers box

From Saturday's game . . .

THE SCORE
Kelowna 5, Kamloops 2

WHAT HAPPENED
The Rockets got out to a 3-1 first-period lead, thanks in part to three marvelous saves by G Mark Guggenberger, and the Blazers didn’t appear
to have the energy necessary to try to work their way back into it.

THE STANDINGS
The Blazers (23-24-1-4) are fifth in the Western Conference, but now are
five points behind the Rockets (27-19-0-2), who hold four games in hand.

THE ENERGY FACTOR?
In their last three games, the Blazers are 1-2-0-0 and have been outshot 125-69.

THE ODD COUPLE
One of the Kelowna defensive pairings comprises D Tyler Myers, who is listed at 6-foot-7, and D Tyson Barrie, who is listed at 5-foot-10 but looks closer to 5-foot-8. The Kelowna coaching staff used the pairing as much as possible against the Blazers’ top line of C.J. Stretch between Shayne Wiebe and Jimmy Bubnick.

THE STREAK
Stretch drew an assist on his club’s first goal to run his point streak to 13 games. Brandon teammates Jay Fehr (17 games) and Andrew Clark (16) also are hot these days.

THE SEASON SERIES
The Rockets have won the first five games between these teams this season, including one in a shootout. Kelowna has a 25-11 edge in goals scored. The teams meet here again on Feb. 3.

THE 20-GOAL MEN
The Blazers have four 20-goal scorers -- Bubnick, Tyler Shattock
Stretch and Wiebe -- for the first time since 2006-07 when Reid
Jorgensen, Ray Macias, Brock Nixon and Juuso Puustinen each scored at least 30.

THE DAILY NEWS THREE STARS

1. D Collin Bowman, Kelowna. Best player on the ice.

2. F Ian Duval, Kelowna. Three points, just one on the PP.

3. F Brandon McMillan, Kelowna. Always plays well against Kamloops.

NEXT UP
The Seattle Thunderbirds are in town Wednesday. Game time is 7 p.m.