Kelowna Rockets take on Kelly Buchberger’s Tri-City Americans

Wednesday is the fourth and final regular season meeting between the Kelowna Rockets and the Tri-City Americans.

The Rockets are 2-1-0-0 against the Am’s with all three games decided by a single goal.

The road team has won all three games; including the Rockets 3-2 win last Friday at Toyota Center in Kennewick.

Kelowna heads into the Wednesday matchup with a record of 12-15-2-0 and 26 points.

The Americans sit fourth in the U.S. division with a record of 14-11-1-0 and 29 points.

First year Tri-City head coach and former NHL veteran Kelly Buchberger hopes the road warrior trend will continue, as the two teams face of for Hat Trick Wednesday at Prospera Place.

3:37 Head Coach Kelly Buchberger talks Tri-City Hockey

It was just last Saturday that the rockets defeated the Tri-City Americans 20 seconds into overtime.

Now Kelly Buchberger has brought the Ams to town for the fourth and final regular season meeting between the two teams.

The Americans are one and two against the Rockets this year, with each game being won by the visiting squad.

“We’re hoping that goes tonight, there’s no question,” Buchberger said.

Buchberger is a former gritty NHLer is in his first year as the Ams head coach, making the transition from assistant coach in the pros to the big bench boss in the WHL.

Buchberger says he’s instilling the hard work ethic, that he subscribed to as a player.

“I think our identity is that the guys never give up, which is great and I love watching them play they compete hard and it gives us a chance to win every night.” Buchberger said.

The Rockets will look to a strong forecheck to put the Ams on their heels early and break the road warrior win streak.

“These guys are a big team, they are heavy, they like to hunt you down with a heavy forecheck. We want to do that too,” said Kelowna Rockets head coach Adam Foote.