Payworks Recap: Rockets fight off T-Birds in game four to stave off elimination
The Kelowna Rockets came back to take down the Seattle Thunderbirds 3-2 in overtime on Wednesday night at Prospera Place in Kelowna, BC.
Trailing three games to none in the best of seven series, the Rockets needed to win tonight to keep their season alive.
Kelowna’s special teams were once again the story of the night. After going zero-for-five on the power play last night, the Rockets were two-for-five with the man advantage – the overtime winner came with a Seattle Thunderbird sitting in the penalty box. The Kelowna penalty kill shut down all three Seattle attempts.
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Calgary Flames prospect Lucas Ciona (2, 3) scored with 19 seconds to go in the first and added another early in the second.
Gabriel Szturc (1) capitalized on the power play and Noah Dorey (1) another just past the midway point of the middle frame.
The two remained tied at two after sixty minutes of play, forcing sudden-death overtime. Reid Schaefer tripped up Dylan Wightman, to give the Rockets the first power-play chance 15:03 into extra time. With the puck down low, Adam Kydd’s (2) shot found its way past Thomas Milic 22 seconds into the power play.
WHOA-vertime winner from Adam Kydd!@Kelowna_Rockets | #WHLPlayoffs | #SEAvsKEL https://t.co/IUoQ5wVOb9 pic.twitter.com/eq5EDC547i
— The WHL (@TheWHL) April 28, 2022
Rockets netminder Talyn Boyko stopped 36 of the 38 shots he faced, Seattle goaltender Thomas Milic turned aside 26 of the 29 shots fired on him.
The Rockets were without Mark Liwiski, who was serving the first game of his two-game suspension for a check to head in the previous night’s game. Kelowna was also without Pavel Novak.
Kelowna will be back in action for game five against the T-Birds on Friday night in Kent at 7:05 pm. You can watch on CHL TV or listen on AM 1150.
