The Kelowna Rockets control their fate going into the final weekend of the regular season.
91裸聊视频淗uge games for sure, we need four points,91裸聊视频 said Rockets leading goal scorer Tij Iginla. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 like playoff hockey before the playoffs.91裸聊视频
Going into the weekend, the Rockets sit sixth in the Western Conference and could finish the regular season anywhere from fourth to eighth.
91裸聊视频4th - Wenatchee Wild - 70 points
91裸聊视频5th - Vancouver Giants - 68 points
91裸聊视频6th - Kelowna Rockets - 67 points
91裸聊视频7th - Victoria Royals - 67 points
91裸聊视频8th - Spokane Chiefs - 64 points
All five of these teams have two games this weekend except for Victoria, who only has one game remaining against Wenatchee.
The Rockets take on Vancouver in a massive home-and-home series, which starts Friday night (Mar. 22) at the Langley Events Centre.
91裸聊视频淭his weekend is huge, we91裸聊视频檙e looking to get two big wins,91裸聊视频 said Rockets leading scorer Andrew Cristall. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 going to be playoff intensity and playoff atmosphere, it91裸聊视频檚 going to be a lot of fun.91裸聊视频
Both Iginla and Cristall see this weekend as an advantage for the team ahead of the playoffs.
91裸聊视频淚 think it91裸聊视频檚 good going into playoff with high-intensity games but at the same time, we got to win these ones,91裸聊视频 said Iginla.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 huge, to get the chance to take matters into our own hands and if we win two games, we get the positioning that we want so it91裸聊视频檚 pretty exciting and we91裸聊视频檒l be ready to go,91裸聊视频 added Cristall.
Last season, the Rockets got bounced in the first round of the WHL playoffs but the players gained some playoff experience to bring into this year. For being a 17-year-old, Iginla also brings playoff experience as he was with the Seattle Thunderbirds last year, who won the WHL and went to the Memorial Cup.
91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檒l let the guys know the crowd might be louder and everything might be a little more amped up but at the end of the day, it91裸聊视频檚 the same game, we91裸聊视频檙e still out there playing hockey so I think we should just be confident in ourselves and it91裸聊视频檒l translate onto the ice,91裸聊视频 said Cristall.
With this, they91裸聊视频檒l help out some of the younger players like the team91裸聊视频檚 rookie of the year Hiroki Gojsic, who will be experiencing the playoffs for the first time.
91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 pretty excited, I91裸聊视频檓 pumped, I91裸聊视频檓 ready to get things going,91裸聊视频 said Gojsic. 91裸聊视频淭hese two games this weekend are huge for us.91裸聊视频
91裸聊视频淚n the room, I think we91裸聊视频檙e as confident as ever no matter who we play,91裸聊视频 said Cristall.
The second half of the home-and-home will take place at Prospera Place on Saturday night, where the Rockets will be wearing specialty jerseys with their mascot, Rocky the Raccoon on them.
91裸聊视频淭he jerseys are super cool and he had a pretty viral moment which was really funny but glad he91裸聊视频檚 okay and it should be good to wear those, they91裸聊视频檙e pretty sweet,91裸聊视频 said Cristall.
Fans have until puck drop to get their names in to win a jersey off the player91裸聊视频檚 backs. The fans whose names are drawn from the ballot will be collecting specialty jerseys from the Rockets themselves.
The jerseys are a part of the team91裸聊视频檚 Fan Appreciation Night. The Hip Replacements will be providing live music all night long while the 50/50 starts at $10,000, with the proceeds supporting Kelowna Minor Hockey. Every fan will receive a free team poster. Puck drop is at 7:05 p.m.
READ MORE: Iginla wins Kelowna Rockets MVP at team91裸聊视频檚 annual awards
READ MORE: West Kelowna Warriors set for weekend in the Kootenays