Rockets’ lead narrows Wild, wild card
Single point gives Kelowna narrowest of margins in race for final playoff spot
Jaret Anderson-Dolan scored twice, including the game-winner in overtime, to give the Spokane Chiefs a 6-5 victory over the Kelowna Rockets in front of 4,935 fans at Prospera Place, Wednesday.
The result was important for the Rockets, a crucial loser-point earned in a manner not seen in these parts for quite a while. Kelowna overcame a pair of three-goal deficits to take the game into overtime
“It can go any way in overtime,” Rockets head coach Adam Foote said. “It was a gutsy performance by our players, and I really like the performance by our big guys. They really came to play.”
Spokane scored 12 seconds in when Kelownanative Jack Finley swiped a one-timer past Roman Basran for his ninth of the season
The Rockets answered quickly, when the Chiefs left Nolan Foote unmarked at the top of the crease. He corralled a pass from Kaedan Korczak, forced goaltender Bailey Brkin to commit, then chipped in his 35th of the season at 3:54.
The Western Hockey League’s hottest scorer of late, Anderson-Dolan put Spokane ahead at 8:39 with his 18th of the campaign. The Los Angeles Kings prospect has lit the lamp in nine consecutive games. At 17:26, Luke Toporowski gained the Rockets zone and beat Basran stick-side for his 20th to make it 3-1.
James Porter came in to relieve Basran, who stopped three of six shots. When Ethan McIndoe, a veteran of 261 WHL games, jammed home his 15th at 3:11 of the second stanza to make it 4-1, the Chiefs appeared to opt for cruise control for the remainder of the tilt.
If that was the case, it was a huge mistake. The Rockets, 2-25-4-1 when trailing after two periods, outscored Spokane 4-1 in the final frame.
Michael Farren was credited with a goal at 1:58, his second of the season for the Rockets, when his centering pass went in off the skate of a Chiefs’ defender.
Midway through the period, defenceman Nolan Reid (with his 16th) and Foote (with his 36th) traded goals 46 seconds apart, but the Rockets still trailed 5-3.
When Porter was summoned to the bench for an extra attacker with 3:28 to play, Kelowna hemmed in the Chiefs until Korczak scored his fourth of the season, drifting a point shot past Brkin to make it 5-4.
Kelowna maintained pressure in the attacking zone and with 1:12 to play, Riley Woods was tagged for high-sticking. Just 32 seconds later, with Porter still on the bench and the Rockets with a two-man advantage, Kyle Topping scored his 33rd to knot the game.
Anderson-Dolan converted a two-on-one 34 seconds into overtime to give Spokane the victory.
“I'm definitely happy with our comeback, outshooting a good team 17-4 in the third,” said Nolan Foote. “The guys battling hard; it was a great effort.
“We were physical and we outworked them. That comeback should be a positive heading into the weekend.”
Meanwhile in Kamloops, the Victoria Royals dressed 15 skaters and started backup goaltender Brock Gould, then proceeded to lose a laugher to the Blazers, 8-0.
The Rockets (27-31-6-2) are one point ahead of the Blazers (27-32-5-2) in the hunt for third place in the B.C. Division. Kelowna has lost three straight (two in overtime) and five of its last six games. Kamloops has won four in a row.
The Rockets travel to Langley and take on the Vancouver Giants on Friday, with the teams back in Kelowna on Saturday for the season finale. The Blazers play the Prince George Cougars, homeand-home this weekend.
ICE CHIPS: Kelowna outshot Spokane 37-25.… The three stars were Foote, Korczak and Toporowski.… Attendance was 4,935.… Kelowna was 1-for-3 on the power play. Spokane was 0-for1.… Porter stopped 16 of 19 shots. Brkin blocked 32 shots.… Rockets scratches were D Matt Barberis, D Lassi Thomson and F Mark Liwiski.