Malc
02-02-2009, 02:55 PM
By Doyle Potenteau
Calvin Pickard played Mr. Hot on Saturday evening. Too hot for the Kelowna Rockets.
Pickard turned aside 35 shots and Jim O'Brien deflected home the winning goal, in overtime, as the Seattle Thunderbirds upended the Rockets 2-1 in WHL action on Saturday night. One night earlier, the Rockets were riding high after beating Medicine Hat 10-1.
Pickard, though, cooled the Rockets' jets with a good performance.
"We had a really good night," said Rockets head coach Ryan Huska, whose team outshot Seattle 36-18. "We just ran into a hot goaltender who made some very big saves for them. I thought the guys did a good job of playing on the road . . . we just didn't come out on the right end."
Jonathan Parker also reached the scoresheet for Seattle (23-26-1-3) with a power-play marker that opened the scoring at 15:21 of the first period. O'Brien notched the game winner at 3:39 of overtime, redirecting a shot from the left side while parked in front of Kelowna's net.
Jamie Benn, with his 31st goal of the season, at 16:57 of the second, replied for Kelowna (29-19-1-2). Until Saturday, the T-Birds were winless against Kelowna this season at 0-3. Mark Guggenberger made 16 saves for the Rockets, who were making their first appearance in Seattle's new rink in Kent, Wash.
http://www.kelownadailycourier.ca/stories_local_sports.php?id=161917
Calvin Pickard played Mr. Hot on Saturday evening. Too hot for the Kelowna Rockets.
Pickard turned aside 35 shots and Jim O'Brien deflected home the winning goal, in overtime, as the Seattle Thunderbirds upended the Rockets 2-1 in WHL action on Saturday night. One night earlier, the Rockets were riding high after beating Medicine Hat 10-1.
Pickard, though, cooled the Rockets' jets with a good performance.
"We had a really good night," said Rockets head coach Ryan Huska, whose team outshot Seattle 36-18. "We just ran into a hot goaltender who made some very big saves for them. I thought the guys did a good job of playing on the road . . . we just didn't come out on the right end."
Jonathan Parker also reached the scoresheet for Seattle (23-26-1-3) with a power-play marker that opened the scoring at 15:21 of the first period. O'Brien notched the game winner at 3:39 of overtime, redirecting a shot from the left side while parked in front of Kelowna's net.
Jamie Benn, with his 31st goal of the season, at 16:57 of the second, replied for Kelowna (29-19-1-2). Until Saturday, the T-Birds were winless against Kelowna this season at 0-3. Mark Guggenberger made 16 saves for the Rockets, who were making their first appearance in Seattle's new rink in Kent, Wash.
http://www.kelownadailycourier.ca/stories_local_sports.php?id=161917