The Kelowna Rockets are smack dab in the middle of the most demanding stretch of their season.

With 17 games in a 33-day span乌鸦传媒攆rom Jan. 30 to March 3乌鸦传媒攁ssistant coach Kris Mallette said how the club manages and maintains the players乌鸦传媒� health and energy will determine how the Rockets乌鸦传媒� come out on the other side.

乌鸦传媒淵ou乌鸦传媒檝e got to keep your finger on the pulse of how the guys are feeling, cater your practises to that and make sure they have the maximum amount of energy to play the games,乌鸦传媒� said Mallette. 乌鸦传媒淭he way it乌鸦传媒檚 been lately, we乌鸦传媒檝e had a mid-week game and another two or three games on the weekend, so it乌鸦传媒檚 been a busy and challenging stretch.

乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 really about making sure the guys are getting the proper rest and nutrition.乌鸦传媒�

The Rockets, who are coming off five games in eight days, will go back to work Friday night in Kamloops again, before returning home Saturday to host Edmonton.

With a spate of injuries to key players, keeping the Rockets fresh and ready to play hasn乌鸦传媒檛 been easy. Forwards Kole Lind (upper body), Liam Kindree, Nolan Foote and defenceman James Hilsendager are all on the sidelines, with Kindree believed to be close to a return. In addition, the club has also used four different goaltenders this season.

Factor in the absence of Dillon Dube and Cal Foote for a month due to world juniors and a steady flow of players on and off the injury list, and the Rockets have only played a handful of games this season with a full lineup.

Still, Kelowna has found a way to win games and stay at the top of the B.C. Division.

乌鸦传媒淵ou talk to other coaches and scouts and they wonder how we乌鸦传媒檝e been doing it, how we乌鸦传媒檝e been finding ways to win,乌鸦传媒� said Mallette. 乌鸦传媒淚 think it乌鸦传媒檚 a testament to all our guys, the leadership we乌鸦传媒檙e getting from our third- and fourth-year players. As a staff, some nights it doesn乌鸦传媒檛 look good, we乌鸦传媒檙e pulling our hair out but somehow the guys find a way, more often than not.乌鸦传媒�

The Rockets (34-18-4-1), who lost 4-1 Wednesday to the Red Deer Rebels, share top spot in the B.C. Division with the Victoria Royals, while the Vancouver Giants sit five points back.

Mallette and the Rockets expect a battle right down to the final week of the regular season.

乌鸦传媒淚n a perfect world, you want to be peaking for the playoffs, but in reality the home stretch of the season is the toughest for all the teams,乌鸦传媒� Mallette said. 乌鸦传媒淥ur position is not locked down, so by no means do we want to let our foot off the gas, leave a lot in the tank and get into bad habits. On the other hand, you do want to be healthy going into the playoffs, so it乌鸦传媒檚 an interesting balance.乌鸦传媒�

Face off Saturday at Prospera Place between the Rockets and Oil Kings is 7:05 p.m.

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