Malc
02-23-2009, 03:01 PM
By Doyle Potenteau
Maybe third place isn't out of reach after all for the Kelowna Rockets.
Tyler Myers scored twice for Kelowna, his first two-goal game, as the Rockets rallied to defeat the Everett Silvertips 3-2 in WHL action on Saturday night. Down 2-0 to their hosts, Myers scored the game-tying goal in the second, then the winner just 17 seconds into the final frame.
With the win, fourth-place Kelowna moved to within three points of third-place Spokane in Western Conference standings. The Chiefs, who have 81 points and a game in hand on the Rockets, fell 2-1 in Tri-City Friday night, their second loss of the weekend following a 3-0 shutout setback in Seattle on Friday night.
"Losing those games earlier in the week to Portland and Chilliwack, it was disappointing because we thought it might be tough to get back into the race for third," said Rockets head coach Ryan Huska, whose team can win another two points Sunday night in Chilliwack. Kelowna closes out a three-game, three-night weekend with a 4 p.m. tilt against the Bruins (15-41-2-4).
"But if we keep winning games, we're giving ourselves a chance. That's the most important thing," continued Huska. "And we still have two games remaining with Spokane, and those would be great chances to jump ahead."
Lucas Bloodoff, with his 17th goal of the season, also scored for Kelowna (37-20-1-3), which outshot Everett 46-29. The game was also the last regular-season meeting between the two franchises, a series Kelowna claimed 3-1. The Rockets also have points in 14 of their last 15 games (11-1-1-2).
Graham Potuer and Trevor Bauer replied for Everett (25-28-7-2), which received a 43-save effort from Thomas Heemskerk. For Kelowna, Mark Guggenberger started but lasted just four minutes 24 seconds after Potuer and Bauer put Everett up 2-0 with two soft goals. Adam Brown was called in and wound up having a stellar relief session, stopping all 24 shots he faced in 55 minutes of action.
"Adam was put into a tough spot," said Huska. "I don't think he was fully prepared to go in that early, but he made some very big saves in the first period and kept us in the game until we got our legs under us in the second."
ICE CHIPS: Kelowna's scratches were RW Kyle St. Denis (concussion, one week) and D Aaron Borejko... Huska said Myers' effort on Saturday was "the best he looked in a Rockets uniform. He was very good in all areas."
http://www.kelownadailycourier.ca/stories_local_sports.php?id=166686
Maybe third place isn't out of reach after all for the Kelowna Rockets.
Tyler Myers scored twice for Kelowna, his first two-goal game, as the Rockets rallied to defeat the Everett Silvertips 3-2 in WHL action on Saturday night. Down 2-0 to their hosts, Myers scored the game-tying goal in the second, then the winner just 17 seconds into the final frame.
With the win, fourth-place Kelowna moved to within three points of third-place Spokane in Western Conference standings. The Chiefs, who have 81 points and a game in hand on the Rockets, fell 2-1 in Tri-City Friday night, their second loss of the weekend following a 3-0 shutout setback in Seattle on Friday night.
"Losing those games earlier in the week to Portland and Chilliwack, it was disappointing because we thought it might be tough to get back into the race for third," said Rockets head coach Ryan Huska, whose team can win another two points Sunday night in Chilliwack. Kelowna closes out a three-game, three-night weekend with a 4 p.m. tilt against the Bruins (15-41-2-4).
"But if we keep winning games, we're giving ourselves a chance. That's the most important thing," continued Huska. "And we still have two games remaining with Spokane, and those would be great chances to jump ahead."
Lucas Bloodoff, with his 17th goal of the season, also scored for Kelowna (37-20-1-3), which outshot Everett 46-29. The game was also the last regular-season meeting between the two franchises, a series Kelowna claimed 3-1. The Rockets also have points in 14 of their last 15 games (11-1-1-2).
Graham Potuer and Trevor Bauer replied for Everett (25-28-7-2), which received a 43-save effort from Thomas Heemskerk. For Kelowna, Mark Guggenberger started but lasted just four minutes 24 seconds after Potuer and Bauer put Everett up 2-0 with two soft goals. Adam Brown was called in and wound up having a stellar relief session, stopping all 24 shots he faced in 55 minutes of action.
"Adam was put into a tough spot," said Huska. "I don't think he was fully prepared to go in that early, but he made some very big saves in the first period and kept us in the game until we got our legs under us in the second."
ICE CHIPS: Kelowna's scratches were RW Kyle St. Denis (concussion, one week) and D Aaron Borejko... Huska said Myers' effort on Saturday was "the best he looked in a Rockets uniform. He was very good in all areas."
http://www.kelownadailycourier.ca/stories_local_sports.php?id=166686