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WHL Wenatchee Wild

Rockets Take 3-1 Win Wednesday Against Wenatchee, 3-1 Lead in WHL Playoff Series

April 4, 2024 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Wenatchee Wild News Release


Wenatchee Wild's Kenta Isogai on game night
Wenatchee Wild's Kenta Isogai on game night
(Wenatchee Wild, Credit: Steve Dunsmoor/Kelowna Rockets)

KELOWNA, British Columbia - The summary for Friday's upcoming Wenatchee Wild playoff game against the Kelowna Rockets is simple: it's Game 5 to stay alive.

Kelowna scored two goals in the first period Wednesday, and despite a 17-shot second period and a hard-fought effort in the third, only Kenta Isogai hit the back of the cage for Wenatchee in a 3-1 loss. Kelowna extended its lead in the best-of-seven Western Conference quarterfinal round to three games to one as the series shifts back to Town Toyota Center this weekend.

9:08 into the game, and 26 seconds into its first power play, the Rockets notched their first lead of the night on a scramble in front - Max Graham pushed the puck to the net, and the Wild clearing attempt connected with two defenders before caroming back into the cage. With 5:30 left in the period, Kelowna made it a 2-0 game when Hiroki Gojsic connected with Tij Iginla on a rink-wide pass, and Iginla drove the puck to the net before wristing it into the top of the Wenatchee net.

The second period was a dominant effort for the Wild, and they were rewarded at the 3:29 mark, when Karter Prosofsky caught Isogai in transition at the Rockets' blue line - Isogai's snapshot rang just inside the top of the net, cutting the Kelowna margin back to 2-1. Despite their efforts to even up the game, though, the final goal went to the Rockets - with 11:02 remaining, Andrew Cristall sent a pass to Gabriel Szturc at the edge of the slot, and his wrist shot hit the back of the net to stretch the Kelowna lead back to two goals.

Jari Kykkanen picked up the win with 34 saves, while Daniel Hauser took the loss despite making 30 saves of his own. The Rockets were 4-for-5 on special teams, going 1-for-2 on the power play and turning away all three Wenatchee chances. Szturc and Cristall had the game's only multi-point showings for the hosts.

"We gave up two goals in the first and battled back," said Wild head coach Roy Sommer. "We had a really good second and third (period) - I thought we dominated the game. We deserved a better outcome, and we've got to find a way to get some pucks past a hot goalie."

The series returns to Wenatchee for Game 5 Friday evening, with the opening puck drop at Town Toyota Center scheduled for 7 p.m. Tickets for Friday's game are on sale now at 509-888-7825, or by visiting the team office at Town Toyota Center. 2024-25 season tickets also remain on sale - updated news and information on Wild hockey are always available through the team's website and on the team's social media platforms on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

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Images from this story

Wenatchee Wild's Kenta Isogai on game night
Wenatchee Wild's Kenta Isogai on game night
(Steve Dunsmoor/Kelowna Rockets)		   



Western Hockey League Stories from April 4, 2024


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