Rockets edge Everett in shootout

For the 10th consecutive season, the Kelowna Rockets have clinched a WHL playoff berth.

In doing so — with a 3-2 shootout victory at Everett on Friday night — the Rockets also leapfrogged the rival Kamloops Blazers into second place in the B.C. Division standings.

The Blazers were beaten 8-4 by the top-ranked Prince George Cougars in the opener of their weekend doubleheader in P.G.

As a result, the Cougars remain four points ahead of the Rockets, though Kelowna has a game in hand with seven remaining in the regular season.

At Everett, Reid Gardiner scored both goals in regulation and Nolan Foote netted the only goal of a six-round shootout as the Rockets (39-21-5-0) prevailed over the host Silvertips (38-14-8-3).

Everett dropped one point behind the Seattle Thunderbirds atop the U.S. Division standings, with the T-Birds edging the visiting Tri-City Americans 3-2.

The Rockets host the Americans (38-24-3-0) tonight — 7 p.m. at Prospera Place — to start a six-game home- stand before closing out the campaign against the last-place Vancouver Giants in Langley on March 18.

Foote, a 16-year-old rookie, was Friday’s hero, along with goalie Michael Herringer, who stopped all six Everett shooters in the tiebreaker after making 34 saves through regulation and overtime.

Gardiner scored twice as the Rockets led 1-0 and 2-1 at the period breaks. He opened the scoring just one minute 22 seconds into the opening frame, then restored Kelowna’s lead with only 49 seconds remaining in the middle stanza.

Jake Christiansen and Patrick Bajkov replied for the Silvertips, who got 23 stops from Carter Hart.

The Rockets have yet to lose in a shootout this season, previously defeating Edmonton 2-1 on the road Dec. 18 and Kamloops 3-2 at home Jan. 7. Jake Kryski, who has since been traded to Calgary, and Kole Lind scored those deciding goals.