Malc
01-26-2009, 03:26 PM
Two goals by Ian Duval and a potent power play helped the Kelowna Rockets earn two points on Saturday night.
At Kamloops, Kelowna went 3-for-3 with the extra man, and Duval and Brandon McMillan both had three-point efforts, as the Rockets defeated the Kamloops Blazers 5-2 in WHL action at Interior Savings Centre.
With the win, the Rockets halted a four-game losing streak (0-2-0-2).
That stretch included an embarrassing 5-4 shootout loss to the Chilliwack Bruins on Friday night.
Heading into the weekend, Kelowna's last victory was 3-2 over the visiting Tri-City Americans on Jan. 14. In addition, the Rockets' last road win was Dec. 17, 3-0 in Edmonton over the Oil Kings.
Mikael Backlund, with his second goal in his sixth WHL game, McMillan, with his 12th, and Colin Long, with his 22nd, also scored for Kelowna (27-19-0-2).
The Rockets opened the scoring, Backlund at 1:28 of the first period, as Kelowna went on to stake leads of 3-1 and 4-2 at the period breaks. Backlund also had an assist and now has six points.
Curtis Kulchar and West Kelowna product Scott Wasden, with his fifth goal, replied for Kamloops (23-24-1-4), who had closed to within three points of Kelowna in Western Conference standings.
Today, though, the fourth-place Rockets now have a five-point bulge and four games in hand over the fifth-place Blazers.
Justin Leclerc turned aside 25 shots for the Blazers. Mark Guggenberger made 24 saves for the Rockets, who are 6-0 against Kamloops this season.
ICE CHIPS: Kelowna's scratches were RW Kyle St. Denis (hand, 1-2 weeks), RW Mitchell Callahan (1-game suspension), LW Ryley Grantham (hand, 1 week)... Kamloops sat C Mark Hall (knee), D Brandon Underwood (thumb), D Michal Siska (leg), F Ryan Hanes and D Josh Caron... Kelowna was 3-for-3 on the power play; Kamloops was 1-for-8... The three stars were McMillan, Evan Bloodoff and Kulchar.
http://www.kelownadailycourier.ca/stories_local_sports.php?id=160446
At Kamloops, Kelowna went 3-for-3 with the extra man, and Duval and Brandon McMillan both had three-point efforts, as the Rockets defeated the Kamloops Blazers 5-2 in WHL action at Interior Savings Centre.
With the win, the Rockets halted a four-game losing streak (0-2-0-2).
That stretch included an embarrassing 5-4 shootout loss to the Chilliwack Bruins on Friday night.
Heading into the weekend, Kelowna's last victory was 3-2 over the visiting Tri-City Americans on Jan. 14. In addition, the Rockets' last road win was Dec. 17, 3-0 in Edmonton over the Oil Kings.
Mikael Backlund, with his second goal in his sixth WHL game, McMillan, with his 12th, and Colin Long, with his 22nd, also scored for Kelowna (27-19-0-2).
The Rockets opened the scoring, Backlund at 1:28 of the first period, as Kelowna went on to stake leads of 3-1 and 4-2 at the period breaks. Backlund also had an assist and now has six points.
Curtis Kulchar and West Kelowna product Scott Wasden, with his fifth goal, replied for Kamloops (23-24-1-4), who had closed to within three points of Kelowna in Western Conference standings.
Today, though, the fourth-place Rockets now have a five-point bulge and four games in hand over the fifth-place Blazers.
Justin Leclerc turned aside 25 shots for the Blazers. Mark Guggenberger made 24 saves for the Rockets, who are 6-0 against Kamloops this season.
ICE CHIPS: Kelowna's scratches were RW Kyle St. Denis (hand, 1-2 weeks), RW Mitchell Callahan (1-game suspension), LW Ryley Grantham (hand, 1 week)... Kamloops sat C Mark Hall (knee), D Brandon Underwood (thumb), D Michal Siska (leg), F Ryan Hanes and D Josh Caron... Kelowna was 3-for-3 on the power play; Kamloops was 1-for-8... The three stars were McMillan, Evan Bloodoff and Kulchar.
http://www.kelownadailycourier.ca/stories_local_sports.php?id=160446