At the end of January, the Kelowna Rockets含羞草研究社� prospects of a B.C. Division title looked grim, at best.

A month later, Jason Smith含羞草研究社檚 club is breathing down the necks of both the Prince George Cougars and Kamloops Blazers.

With 11 wins in its last 14 games含羞草研究社攁nd eight games remaining含羞草研究社擪elowna (38-21-5-0) now sits just four points back of the first-place Cougars and one back of second-place Kamloops. The Rockets hold a game in hand on both clubs.

Smith said his team含羞草研究社檚 recent surge in the standings should make for an interesting final two weeks of the regular season.

含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 close, it含羞草研究社檚 a competitive division,含羞草研究社� said Smith, the Rockets含羞草研究社� first-year head coach. 含羞草研究社淓very game has got meaning from now until the end of the year.

含羞草研究社淲e含羞草研究社檒l see where it all falls when we含羞草研究社檙e done eight games from now, but the guys in the room are excited about the way we含羞草研究社檙e playing and the way we含羞草研究社檙e competing.含羞草研究社�

As much progress as the Rockets have made over the last several weeks, goaltender Michael Herringer said the team needs to resist the urge to look too far ahead含羞草研究社攂oth at the potential of a division title and the start of the postseason.

The most immediate task, said Herringer, is the Rockets含羞草研究社� visit to Everett tonight to take on the U.S. Division-leading Silvertips.

含羞草研究社淭hat含羞草研究社檚 obviously our goal, we want to win out the rest of our games, but I think our focus right now is to win on Friday in Everett,含羞草研究社� said Herringer, who made 26 stops Wednesday to lead the Rockets to a 5-1 win over the Cougars at Prospera Place.

含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 the best time of the year and we含羞草研究社檙e all really excited about it but at the same time it含羞草研究社檚 the next game that含羞草研究社檚 most important.含羞草研究社�

Working in the Rockets含羞草研究社� favour over the last several weeks has been a mostly full and healthy lineup, a rarity for WHL teams this late in the season.

含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 been good,含羞草研究社� Smith said of his team含羞草研究社檚 recent good health. 含羞草研究社淎nytime you have depth in your lineup from your first line to your fourth and you have six D that are playing, it gives you an opportunity to put guys out in different situations.含羞草研究社�

The Rockets, who will play seven of their last nine games at home, will host the Tri-City Americans on Saturday. Face-off at Prospera Place is 7:05 p.m.

Johansen signs with Caps含羞草研究社�

Rockets defenceman Lucas Johansen this week signed a three-year entry level contract with the NHL含羞草研究社檚 Washington Capitals.

Johansen, 19, was a first-round pick of the Caps, 28th overall, in the 2016 entry draft.

In 194 career games, the Port Moody product has 17 goals, 93 points and a +47 rating.