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WHL Kelowna Rockets

Blazers Top Rockets, 4-3

January 27, 2024 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Kelowna Rockets News Release


Kelowna Rockets battle the Kamloops Blazers
Kelowna Rockets battle the Kamloops Blazers
(Kelowna Rockets, Credit: Steve Dunsmoor/Kelowna Rockets)

The Kamloops Blazers came back to defeat the Kelowna Rockets 4-3 with 4.7 seconds remaining in overtime on Friday night at Prospera Place.

It was the Rockets second straight loss where they fell in the final minutes, with the Everett Silvertips scoring the game-winning goal with 1:31 to play in regulation on Wednesday.

"We played a poor 40 minutes leading into that," said head coach Kris Mallette in his post-game interview. "I asked our players to prepare, focus and execute and tonight we weren't in any of that frame from the beginning of the game, and that starts from our top players all the way through. Really two points that are going to come back and haunt us."

Andrew Cristall (28) skated in through the neutral zone, hitting the brakes at the left faceoff dot his shot went through Jesse Sanche's five-hole to put the Rockets on the board on their first shot of the game. Just under two minutes later Nathan Behm (9) responded with a shot from the top of the right faceoff circle that beat Jari Kykkanen blocker side. Captain Gabriel Szturc (24) responded with a backhand goal in tight to restore the Rockets lead before the midway point of the opening frame.

Ashton Ferster (10) tied the game at two 21 seconds into the third period with a power play goal after the Blazers swarmed the crease. Emmitt Finnie's shot went off of Kykkanen's blocker right to Jordan Keller (13) at the other faceoff circle to push Kamloops ahead 8:34 into the third period. Andrew Cristall picked up a loose puck along the point, dishing it off to Szturc (25) at the top of the left faceoff circle to tie the game with 5:27 to play in regulation.

In overtime, Emmitt Finnie was skating along the left half-wall, where he passed the puck back up to Logan Bairos at the point who sent the puck deep into the slot to an unguarded Behm (10) that beat Kykkanen with a backhand shot with 4.7 seconds left to play in overtime.

ADDITIONAL STATS

The Rockets record is now 21-22-2-0

Jari Kykkanen made 39 saves in 43 shots

Kamloops was 1/3 on the power play while Kelowna was 0/2

The Blazers outshot the Rockets 43-31

This was the third of eight meetings between the two, with the Blazers leading the season series 2-1

UP NEXT

The Rockets will wrap up their home-and-home series with the Kamloops Blazers tomorrow (Saturday) on the road at 6:00 pm at the Sandman Centre. Kelowna will then hit the road for a three-game trip starting in Portland on Wednesday.

Kelowna's next home game is set for Wednesday, February 7 when the Victoria Royals will visit Prospera Place for the final time this season. It will be a fan first menu with $2 hot dogs and $5 Lucy Lager.

Single Game Tickets for all Rockets games can be purchased:

Online at selectyourtickets.com

By calling Select Your Tickets at 250-762-5050

Or by visiting the Select Your Tickets box office at the Prospera Place box office. The box office is open 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and opens at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday home game days.

Check out the Kelowna Rockets Statistics




Images from this story

Kelowna Rockets battle the Kamloops Blazers
Kelowna Rockets battle the Kamloops Blazers
(Steve Dunsmoor/Kelowna Rockets)		   



Western Hockey League Stories from January 27, 2024


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