Rocket Recap: Rockets lose to Kamloops in OT
The Kelowna Rockets fell to the Kamloops Blazers 3-2 in overtime Friday night at the Sandman Centre in Kamloops, BC.
Both Kamloops and Kelowna found themselves in penalty trouble, the Blazers had five penalties while the Rockets served six throughout the game. The Rockets were on the penalty kill when the game-winning goal was scored.
Nolan Foote made his 2019-2020 season debut, picking up two primary assists on the Rockets goals. Blazer Ryan Hughes, acquired in a trade earlier in the week from Saskatoon, lead the way for Kamloops with an assist and two goals, including the game-winner.
While screening the net Zane Franklin (2) deflected a shot past Roman Basran as time expired on a Rockets penalty to open the scoring just before the midway point of the first period. The Rockets would answer when Nolan Foote made a nifty move around the defender and passed it back to Dillon Hamaliuk (3) who as in the high slot waiting for the pass. Despite taking three penalties during the opening fame the Rockets entered the first intermission tied 1-1 with the Blazers.
What an effort by @foote_nolan to pick up the ???? pic.twitter.com/zIOoeA7U4p
— Kelowna Rockets (@Kelowna_Rockets) September 28, 2019
The Rockets stayed out of the box during the middle frame and had two power plays of their own, but were unable to jump in front of Kamloops. They remained tied at one after two periods.
On their fifth power play of the game, Franklin fed the puck from behind the net to a waiting Hughes (2) who was waiting on the backdoor to put the Blazers up 2-1. The Rockets would also answer while on the power play, Kyle Topping (2) deflected Nolan Foote’s pass past Rayce Ramsay to tie up the game.
That took a whopping seven seconds. Chalk up another nice ???? for @foote_nolan. pic.twitter.com/LbG6dBAlWV
— Kelowna Rockets (@Kelowna_Rockets) September 28, 2019
In overtime, Foote was called for hooking after attempting to stop a charging Martin Lang from getting to the net. While playing four on five, Hughes (3) played the role of hero in his debut with Kamloops putting home the game-winner to lift the Blazers to their first victory the season after going 0-3 last weekend.
The Rockets are now 1-0-1-0.
Roman Basran stopped 29 of the 32 shots fired on him. Kelowna was outshot 32-20 by the Blazers.
The Rockets are back in action tomorrow night when they host the Everett Silvertips at Prospera Place at 7:05pm. Tickets are on sale at selectyourtickets.com, at the Prospera Place box office or by phone at 250-762-5050.
