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WHL Kelowna Rockets

Rockets Win, 3-1, Over Wild

April 4, 2024 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Kelowna Rockets News Release


Wenatchee Wild's Steven Arp versus Kelowna Rockets' Jari Kykkanen
Wenatchee Wild's Steven Arp versus Kelowna Rockets' Jari Kykkanen
(Kelowna Rockets, Credit: Steve Dunsmoor/Kelowna Rockets)

The Kelowna Rockets pushed their lead to three games to one in their best of seven series with the Wenatchee Wild on Wednesday evening at Prospera Place.

Coming off of a 5-1 victory last night to take their first lead in the series, the Rockets came out with a 3-1 win tonight on home ice.

Jari Kykkanen earned the game's first star for the second consecutive night, in tonight's game he turned aside 34 of the 35 shots he faced, including 16 of the 17 fired on him in the second period.

"An understatement that Jari kept us in it," said Rockets head coach Kris Mallette in his postgame interview. "We had a great first period, little bit of a lull and didn't give up much. The second and third were a completely different story, real lopsided and the ice was tilted, Jari was dialed. Traffic, rebound control, whatever it was, he fought and gave us a chance. He's a big reason for that w tonight."

GAME SUMMARY

Kelowna's power play struck 9:08 into the game. Max Graham (2) was credited with the goal after Wild defenceman Karter Prosofsky tried to clear it out of the crease, but it went off of another Wild players shin pad and back into the net. Tij Iginla (6) stayed hot with his six goal in three games after Hiroki Gojsic hit the streaking Iginla with a pass along the left side that resulted in him taking off past the Wild defence and beating goaltender Daniel Hauser.

Kenta Isogai (2) cut the Rockets lead in half 3:29 into the second. After the Wild lost the faceoff in their zone, Isogai came up with the puck at his own blueline and zipped past the Rockets defence beating Jari Kykkanen glove side.

Andrew Cristall centered the puck to Gabriel Szturc (2) in the right faceoff circle, ripping the insurance goal past Hauser with 11:02 to go in the third period.

ADDITIONAL STATS

Kelowna was 1/2 on the man advantage while the Wild were shutout 0/3

The Wild outshot the Rockets 35-33

The Rockets lead best of seven series 3-1

UP NEXT

The series will shift back to Weantchee for game five on Friday night, where the Rockets can eliminate the Wild with a victory. Puck drop is set for 7:00 pm, fans can watch on CHL TV or listen on 104.7 The Lizard.

If the Rockets are unable to close out the series on Friday, a game six would take place at Prospera Place on Sunday at 2:05 pm. Tickets for that potential game are not available until the result of Friday's game is determined.

Check out the Kelowna Rockets Statistics




Images from this story

Wenatchee Wild's Steven Arp versus Kelowna Rockets' Jari Kykkanen
Wenatchee Wild's Steven Arp versus Kelowna Rockets' Jari Kykkanen
(Steve Dunsmoor/Kelowna Rockets)		   



Western Hockey League Stories from April 4, 2024


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