Image Credit: Kelowna Rockets/Marissa Baecker
March 15, 2015 - 9:27 AM
KELOWNA - The Kamloops Blazers battled hard, but fell shot in a 2-1 loss to the Kelowna Rockets on the road Saturday night, March 14.
The Rockets tallied first only 1:07 into the game. Rourke Chartier's wrap around squeezed through the five-hole of Connor Ingram to make it 1-0 for the Rockets.
The Blazers tied the game up midway through the period on the power play. Matt Needham got to a rebound and buried his 24th goal of the season to make it 1-1.
Tyson Baillie and Dillon Dube had two great chances to give the Rockets the lead in the latter half of the period. Luckily, Baillie found the post and Dube put it over an open net to keep it a 1-1 game.
The two teams played on in the second period with both goaltenders playing solid between the pipes.
Connor Ingram made good saves on Chartier and Baillie to keep it tied up.
Matt Needham had the best chance for the Blazers in tight, but he could not get a handle on the puck.
The Rockets took the lead with 1:44 to play in the second period. Tyson Baillie went in 1-on-1 and lost the puck, but Madison Bowey was behind him and snapped home a shot in tight over the shoulder of Connor Ingram to give the Rockets a 2-1 lead headed into the third period.
The Blazers have played great hockey as of late and continued it in the third period outshooting the Rockets 13-7 in the period.
The best chance for the Blazers to tie the game was in the final minute and a half. Cole Ully took a centering pass, but fired the puck into goaltender Jackson Whistle.
In the end, Whistle was solid for the Rockets earning the game's second star in making 29 saves for the win. Connor Ingram was very good for the Blazers with 24 saves on the night.
The Blazers outshot the Rockets 30-26. The Rockets were 0-for-4 on the power play, while the Blazers finished 1-for-3.
The Blazers are tied with the Tri-City Americans for the final wildcard spot in the Western Conference with 61 points. Prince George sits 2 points ahead of the Blazers for third in the B.C. Division.
The Blazers will meet the Cougars three times next week to conclude the regular season. The travel to Prince George for games Wednesday, March 18 and Friday, March 20, before hosting the Cougars on Saturday, March 21.
News from © iNFOnews, 2015