The Kelowna Rockets starting goalie was absent Friday night as the team took on the Portland Winterhawks on home ice.
Brodan Salmond is getting medical treatment for an ongoing injury and is said to be returning Wednesday.
With help from 17-year-old James Porter, the Rockets were looking for revenge after losses to Portland during their recent road trip south of the border.
But after losing 3-1 to the Winterhawks at Prospera Place Friday, the Rockets record drops to 4-5-1-1 on the season.
Porter still stopped 45 of 47 shots on goal, as the Winterhawks out-shot the Rockets 48-27, earning the Idaho native the first star of the game.
Portland goals came from Keiffer Bellows in the last half of the second period, which was the opening goal, and by Skyler McKenzie and Cody Glass (an empty netter with 13 seconds on the clock) in the third.
The Rocket’s Kyle Topping scored his sixth of the season at 14:50 of the third to give the team a point.
The two teams battle again Saturday night in Kelowna.