OT loss pushes Rockets to brink
The Kelowna Rockets entered Wednesday night’s fourth game of the Western Hockey League playoffs on the brink of elimination.
Prince George Cougars entered last night’s game with a 3-0 series lead which included two shutout victories and then a thrilling 4-3 overtime win at Prospera Place on Tuesday.
Wednesday night’s game was still in progress at our press deadline.
After being held scoreless in the first two games of the series in Prince George, the Rockets were able to put three past goaltender Joshua Ravensbergen including a late third period goal from captain Gabriel Szturc to force overtime.
In extra time the Rockets lost the puck tying to enter the Cougars zone, turning the other way Matteo Danis jammed the centering feed past Jari Kykkanen to secure the Cougars victory.
“The overtime, it was a minute twelve?” said Rockets head coach Kris Mallette in his postgame interview. “You work so hard and it’s a game of inches, you take a half a second off on the back check and it’s in the back of your net. It’s tough because our guys competed for, they played.”
The Rockets power play was shut down five times on the night, with the majority of the man advantages coming in the first frame.
“We didn’t score, but we didn’t lose any momentum,” said Mallette. “We had chances, we had 18 shots on net in the first period, we had opportunities that they were blocking and sacrificing. It was a lot different than what it was up in Prince George where our power play couldn’t gain any traction. I think besides the fact it didn’t score we did a lot of really good things on it and that’s something to build on.”
Also scoring for the Cougars were Hudson Thornton, Onderj Becher and Borya Valis. Ethan Neutens and Michael Cicek were the other Kelowna scorers. PG outshot the Rockets 38-35.
Should the series go to five games, Game 5 will be Friday in Prince George with a possible sixth game in Kelowna Sunday at 2:05 p.m.
For immediate details on last night’s game, visit: kelownadailycourier.ca or for those without the internet phone 250-490-0880, ext. 300 for a recorded message with the game result.