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WHL Kelowna Rockets

Rockets Get Past Giants

March 2, 2024 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Kelowna Rockets News Release


Kelowna Rockets battle the Vancouver Giants
Kelowna Rockets battle the Vancouver Giants
(Kelowna Rockets, Credit: Rob Wilton/Vancouver Giants)

Caden Price's overtime winner 3:33 into extra time lifted the Kelowna Rockets past the Vancouver Giants on Friday night at the Langley Events Centre.

After scoring three unanswered goals to hold a commanding 3-0 lead heading into the third period, the Giants chipped away at the Rockets lead to tie the game and force overtime.

GAME SUMMARY

Hiroki Gojsic battled behind the net to send the puck out front where Max Graham (12) powered his way through the slot to put the Rockets on the board first 7:13 into the game. Graham (13) struck again two minutes later while on the man advantage to give Kelowna a two-goal lead before the midway point of the frame.

While on the power play, Mazen Leslie's blind pass found its way onto Tij Iginla's (41) stick at the top of the right faceoff circle, where he let a shot go from the high slot to beat Brett Mirwald and pad the Rockets lead with the lone goal of the second period.

While on the penalty kill Jari Kykkanen made a cross-crease save on Adam Titlback but Ty Halaburda (18) put the rebound in to get the Giants on the board 10:47 into the third period. Fifty-five seconds later Halaburda set up Jaden Lipinski (17) with a one-timer in the slot to pull Vancouver within one. With 2:29 left in regulation Cameron Schmidt (23) tied the game at three.

While in overtime Caden Price blocked a shot in the Rockets zone, he then sent the puck up along the left boards into the neutral zone. Leslie picked up the puck along the Giants blueline, but Andrew Cristall was able to track down the puck and skate to the high slot, dropping it off to Price (11) in the slot where he found the back of the net with the overtime winner.

ADDITIONAL STATS

The Rockets record is now 27-28-3-1

Rockets goaltender Jari Kykkanen stopped 34 of 37 shots fired his way to pick up his 22nd win of the season

Vancouver was 1/7 with the man advantage, while the Rockets power play went 2/6

The Giants outshot the Rockets 37-28

This was the sixth of eight meetings between the two this season, with the Rockets leading the season series 5-1. The two will face each other next on March 22 in Langley

UP NEXT

The Rockets will wrap up their weekend road trip at 6:05 pm tomorrow night against the Tri-City Americans.

The next Rockets home game is set for Wednesday, March 2, when the Tri-City Americans will make their final visit of the season to Prospera Place. It will be a Fan First Menu night with $2 hot dogs and $5 beer Lucky Lager. The Fan First Menu is available at all Monday to Wednesday regular season games.

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.

Six and twelve game Mini Packs for the Kelowna Rockets season are now on sale through Select Your Tickets.

Check out the Kelowna Rockets Statistics




Images from this story

Kelowna Rockets battle the Vancouver Giants
Kelowna Rockets battle the Vancouver Giants
(Rob Wilton/Vancouver Giants)		   



Western Hockey League Stories from March 2, 2024


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