With a dozen games still remaining in the WHL含羞草研究社檚 regular season, it may be premature to call Friday含羞草研究社檚 game in Kamloops a must-win for the Kelowna Rockets.

Still, the two points loom large if the Rockets plan on chasing down both the Blazers and Prince George Cougars in the B.C. Division.

The Rockets (35-20-5-0) trail the first-place Cougars by six points and second-place Kamloops by five points, with Kelowna holding two games in hand on both rivals.

The Rockets have yet to win at the Sandman Centre in Kamloops this season (0-4-0), a trend captain Rodney Southam said his club needs to remedy on Friday.

含羞草研究社淲e haven含羞草研究社檛 performed in Kamloops yet, so we have to prove to ourselves we can win in that place,含羞草研究社� said Southam. 含羞草研究社淚 think it含羞草研究社檚 big to get the first goal in that rink, it含羞草研究社檚 always difficult to come back, they have a great goaltender as well.

含羞草研究社淲e含羞草研究社檝e got to play with the lead and we含羞草研究社檝e got to push everything, all four lines need to be going against that team.含羞草研究社�

Few teams have given the Rockets as much consternation this season as the Blazers who, led often by goaltender Connor Ingram, have taken six of nine meetings this season from Kelowna.

While head coach Jason Smith agrees scoring first would be advantageous for the Rockets, even more important is remaining composed and focused, regardless of the situation.

含羞草研究社淪coring the first goal might be key but the big thing is we just have to stick with our game plan,含羞草研究社� said Smith. 含羞草研究社淲e can含羞草研究社檛 get off the beaten path if we generate some chances and don含羞草研究社檛 score. You can含羞草研究社檛 do what we call 含羞草研究社榗heat the game含羞草研究社� if you don含羞草研究社檛 score, you can含羞草研究社檛 make fancy plays and get out of the structure.

含羞草研究社淚f we stick with our game plan and play as a team and a group, I think we含羞草研究社檒l give ourselves a real good opportunity to win the game.含羞草研究社�

It含羞草研究社檚 the last of 10 regular season games against the Blazers and the first of a challenging three-game in three-day weekend road trip for Kelowna.

The Rockets will be in Kent, WA on Saturday to face the Seattle Thunderbirds, followed by a visit to the Spokane Chiefs on Sunday.

含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 going to be a busy weekend, a lot of travel, we have to get our sleep, but hopefully we含羞草研究社檒l grab two out of three of those,含羞草研究社� Southam added.

含羞草研究社淓ach game is huge, it含羞草研究社檚 so tight in the Western Conference, every game matters, every points matters. We gotta start pushing towards playoffs and be thinking about it every day.含羞草研究社�

Southam scored his second career hat-trick on Wednesday night in the Rockets含羞草研究社� 10-1 drubbing of the Edmonton Oil Kings. Kelowna, which has won eight of its last 10 games, set new season highs for goals scored in a game and third-period goals, with six.

The Rockets next home action is next Wednesday, March 4 against the Prince George Cougars.