VICTORIA, B.C. – With less than a second left on the clock in the third period, a last-gasp goal by Justin Kirkland tied the game 2-2 and brought the Kelowna Rockets back from near-death Tuesday night.
Rocket Calvin Thurkauf scored in overtime to help the Rockets to a 3-2 victory over the Victoria Royals to win the best-of-seven series.
Victoria had home-ice advantage and drew first blood in Game 7. Tyler Soy and Alex Forsberg had goals for the Royals.
After two periods without a Kelowna goal, Rockets Coach Brad Ralph was feeling the pressure.
“We just got to get the next one,” Ralph said at the end of the second. “It’s 2-0. The next one is critical for us. I feel if we can get the next one, we’re in this game.”
Kirkland put Kelowna on the board before forcing the game into OT. Thurkauf then scored the overtime winner.
The Rockets host the Seattle Thunderbirds Friday for Game 1 of the WHL Western Conference Final.
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