Americans down Rockets 5-0 in series opener

The Kelowna Rockets fell 5-0 to the Tri-City Americans on Thursday night at Prospera Place in game one of round one of the 2018 WHL playoffs.

After a fast paced back and forth opening frame Morgan Geekie(1) opened the scoring for Tri-City with 4:38 remaining. The Americans held a 1-0 lead into the second period.

In the middle period Isaac Johnson(1) gave the Americans a 2-0 lead at 5:11. Controversy came at the end of the frame as Dillon Dube collided with Americans goaltender Patrick Dea. Dube was issued a five minute major for charging and ejected from the game with 10 seconds to play in the period. The score was 2-0 Tri-City after 40 minutes of play.

Under four minutes into the period and with 1:12 to go in the major penalty to Dube, Geekie(2) made it 3-0 on the power play. Michael Rasmussen(1) struck again on the same power play 23 seconds later to make it 4-0 Americans. Rasmussen(2) added another power play marker 1:59 later to give the Americans a 5 goal lead and that would be it for goal scoring as Tri-City takes game one 5-0.

James Porter stopped 27 of the 32 shots he faced as Kelowna outshot Tri-City 39-32.

Tri-City now leads the best-of-seven series 1-0.

Game two goes on Saturday, March 24th at 7:05pm at Prospera Place.

The full first round schedule is as follows:

Tickets are available for Rockets home games through selectyourtickets.com, at the Prospera Place box office or by phone at 250-762-5050.