At the end of January, the Kelowna Rockets乌鸦传媒� prospects of a B.C. Division title looked grim, at best.

A month later, Jason Smith乌鸦传媒檚 club is breathing down the necks of both the Prince George Cougars and Kamloops Blazers.

With 11 wins in its last 14 games乌鸦传媒攁nd eight games remaining乌鸦传媒擪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乌鸦传媒檚 recent surge in the standings should make for an interesting final two weeks of the regular season.

乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 close, it乌鸦传媒檚 a competitive division,乌鸦传媒� said Smith, the Rockets乌鸦传媒� first-year head coach. 乌鸦传媒淓very game has got meaning from now until the end of the year.

乌鸦传媒淲e乌鸦传媒檒l see where it all falls when we乌鸦传媒檙e done eight games from now, but the guys in the room are excited about the way we乌鸦传媒檙e playing and the way we乌鸦传媒檙e competing.乌鸦传媒�

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乌鸦传媒攂oth at the potential of a division title and the start of the postseason.

The most immediate task, said Herringer, is the Rockets乌鸦传媒� visit to Everett tonight to take on the U.S. Division-leading Silvertips.

乌鸦传媒淭hat乌鸦传媒檚 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,乌鸦传媒� said Herringer, who made 26 stops Wednesday to lead the Rockets to a 5-1 win over the Cougars at Prospera Place.

乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 the best time of the year and we乌鸦传媒檙e all really excited about it but at the same time it乌鸦传媒檚 the next game that乌鸦传媒檚 most important.乌鸦传媒�

Working in the Rockets乌鸦传媒� favour over the last several weeks has been a mostly full and healthy lineup, a rarity for WHL teams this late in the season.

乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 been good,乌鸦传媒� Smith said of his team乌鸦传媒檚 recent good health. 乌鸦传媒淎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.乌鸦传媒�

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乌鸦传媒�

Rockets defenceman Lucas Johansen this week signed a three-year entry level contract with the NHL乌鸦传媒檚 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.