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WHL Kelowna Rockets

Thunderbirds Edge Rockets, 3-2

April 1, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Kelowna Rockets News Release


Seattle Thunderbirds' Brayden Dube versus Kelowna Rockets' Jari Kykkanen
Seattle Thunderbirds' Brayden Dube versus Kelowna Rockets' Jari Kykkanen
(Kelowna Rockets, Credit: Steve Dunsmoor)

The regular season Western Conference champion Seattle Thunderbirds pushed back in the third period to take the opening game of their playoff series with the Kelowna Rockets 3-2 on Friday night at the accesso ShoWare Center in Kent, WA.

The Rockets were able to hold off the Thunderbirds in the opening frame, grabbing a 1-0 lead just past the midway point. Kelowna's power play pushed them out to a two-goal lead in the second period, but Arizona Coyote prospect Dylan Guenther was able to score late in the second and add another early in the third to tie things up. With captain Gabriel Szturc in the penalty box, Seattle was able to grab the lead.

The Rockets elected to go with Jari Kykkanen in net, he turned aside 36 of the 39 shots he faced.

GAME SUMMARY

Scoreless past the midway point of the opening period, Sawyer Mynio rimmed the puck from behind his own net along the boards where Grady Lenton collected it along the half wall and dished it to Jackson DeSouza (1). DeSouza's seeing-eye shot from the point found its way through traffic and past Thomas Milic.

With Colton Dach sitting in the penalty box, the Rockets power play capitalized to push the Rockets out to a 2-0 lead. Adam Kydd from beside the net, Caden Price (1) above the high slot to fire another long-distance shot past Milic. Seattle hemmed Kelowna in their own zone in the final minute of the second frame, World Junior hero Dylan Guenther (1) pounced on a loose puck in front of the net to cut the Rockets lead in half with seconds remaining on the clock.

Guenther (2) found the back of the net again, tying the game 3:22 into the third period. With captain Gabriel Szturc sitting in the box for hooking, Nashville Predator Reid Schaefer (1) at the side of the net turned and put a shot past Kykkanen to give the T-Birds their first lead of the game.

ADDITIONAL STATS

Seattle outshot Kelowna 39-25

Dylan Guenther was the first star, Thomas Milic was the second and Caden Price was the third star of the night

Both teams power plays were 1/3

Seattle now holds a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series

UP NEXT

The Rockets will face the Thunderbirds in game two in Kent on Saturday night, puck drop is set for 6:05 pm. The series will shift to Kelowna for game three on Tuesday, April 4 and game four on Wednesday, April 5 at Prospera Place.

Single-game tickets for both home games are on sale at Select Your Tickets. Tickets can be purchased online through www.selectyourtickets.com, at the Prospera Place box office, or by phone at 250-762-5050.

Check out the Kelowna Rockets Statistics




Images from this story

Seattle Thunderbirds' Brayden Dube versus Kelowna Rockets' Jari Kykkanen
Seattle Thunderbirds' Brayden Dube versus Kelowna Rockets' Jari Kykkanen
(Steve Dunsmoor)		   



Western Hockey League Stories from April 1, 2023


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