ISight Optometry Recap: Rockets grab a point from shootout loss to Americans

ISight Optometry Recap: Rockets grab a point from shootout loss to Americans

The Kelowna Rockets gained a point in a 3-2 shootout loss on Family Day Monday to the Tri-City Americans at Prospera Place.

Michael Cicek opened the scoring and Levi Benson continued his strong play with seventh goal of the season in the loss. Jake Pilon had a solid performance in net, turning aside 43 shots.

HIGHLIGHTS | BOXSCORE | POST GAME MARTIN 

GAME SUMMARY

Kelowna opened the scoring on the power play when Michael Cicek took the puck near the point, walked in and beat Americans goaltender Lukas Matecha to put Kelowna ahead 1-0, giving the Rockets the lead heading into the intermission.

Levi Benson scored his second goal in as many games as a Rockets power play expired when he found the loose puck at the side of the net to double the Rockets lead to 2-0. Kelowna would hold that lead until past the midway point of the third period when Max Curran found the back of the net with his 17th of the season, cutting the Kelowna lead down to one.

Tri-City tied the game with less than a minute left as Savin Virk found a loose puck at the side of the Rockets net and beat Pilon to bring the score to 2-2, as the goal came with the extra attacker on the ice.

Overtime solved nothing as the game went to a shootout where Cruz Pavao was the only scorer of the six total shooters, giving Tri-City the victory.

Despite the loss, Rockets Interim Head Coach Derrick Martin was proud of how the group battled today with several key pieces out due to injury and illness.

“I thought the group was good,” said Martin. “We needed our whole bench tonight. I thought everybody showed up and gave us an honest effort.”

ADDITIONAL STATS