Payworks Recap: Kovacevic’s third period goal lifts Rockets past Thunderbirds
The Kelowna Rockets wrapped up their weekend with a 4-3 win over the Seattle Thunderbirds on Sunday at the accesso ShoWare Center in Kent, WA.
The Rockets were coming off of a 6-2 loss the night before in Kamloops to the Blazers, after defeating them 2-1 on Friday night at Prospera Place.
Seattle got on the board first, with the two trading goals three different times before Rilen Kovacevic scored the game-winner in the middle of the third period.
Andrew Cristall posted the second multi-goal game of his young WHL career, while Kovacevic scored his first game-winner.
Netminder Jari Kykkanen faced 40 shots, stopping 37 of them.
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Jared Davidson (25) opened the scoring for the Thunderbirds 4:38 into the game. Andrew Cristall (15) responded for the Rockets by cutting in front of the T-Birds net while on the power play, unleashing a backhand shot. Jordan Gustafson (20) and Colton Dach (18) traded power play goals before the end of the frame.
Reid Schaefer (25) restored Seattle’s lead 42 seconds into the second period. Cristall (16) tied it up again, redirecting Tyson Feist’s shot past netminder Scott Ratzlaff.
Rilen Kovacevic (3) gave the Rockets their first lead of the game 12:05 into the third.
Those boos you hear in the video? Yeah, that's music to our ears when we're on the road.
🚨 Rilen Kovacecvic pic.twitter.com/XDmWhKkmGP
— Kelowna Rockets (@Kelowna_Rockets) February 28, 2022
The T-Birds outshot the Rockets 40-26.
Kelowna was two-for-five with the power play, while Seattle was one-for-five.
With the win the Rockets leap from the T-Birds for fourth in the western conference standings with 66 points.
The 2022 WHL Playoffs will be played in a Conference Playoff format. The Conference Playoff format was last used during the 2014 WHL Playoffs, with the Division Playoff format in place since the 2015 WHL Playoffs. Click here to learn more about the WHL Playoff Format.
The Rockets will face the Seattle Thunderbirds again on Tuesday night at 7:05 at the accesso ShoWare Center in Kent, Wash. You can watch the game on CHL TV or listen on AM1150.
The Rockets next home game is Friday, March 4th when they host the Victoria Royals. Fans can purchase tickets online at selectyourtickets.com, at the Prospera Place box office or by phone at 250-762-5050. The box office is open 11:00 a.m. to 4:00p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and opens at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday home game days.
