KELOWNA–The Kelowna-Kamloops rivalry is fairly one-sided this year.
The Kelowna Rockets extended their lead at the top of the WHL western conference standings with a 5-3 victory over the Kamloops Blazers tonight.
Most of the highlights from the hard fought, high scoring game were in the second period, when five goals were scored in less than 10 minutes.
The Rockets opened the scoring 12 minutes into the first, with Devante Stephens scoring second of the season to put Kelowna up 1-0 Kelowna after the first period.
Things heated up in the second, with the Blazers‘ Devon Sideroff capitalizing on a power play, tying the game at one.
The Rockets would score the next two, with Rourke Chartier getting his 42nd of the year before Tyson Bailie added his 31st to make it 3-1. Kamloops would cut the lead to one, but Cole Linaker restored Kelowna’s two goal lead on a powerplay, making it 4-2 after two periods.
The Blazers got closer just over six minutes into the third, when Matt Needham beat Jackson Whistle to make it 4-3.
But the Rockets would hang on, with Justin Kirkland adding an empty netter with 24 seconds left. The win gives the Rockets a perfect 6–0 record against the Blazers this year, and they lead the WHL with a 40-8-3 record.
The same teams play again, Saturday night, in Kamloops.
Comments