Game 5 on tap tonight
r Photo by Chris Stanford.
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r By Pieter Uni – Kelowna.com
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r The Rockets may have won two in a row to even their first-round playoff series with the Everett Silvertips, but if Kelowna hope to advance any further, they’ll need to win away from Prospera Place.
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r Kelowna swept both games at Prospera Place after losing twice in Everett, with Game 5 set for tonight in the unfriendly confines of Comcast Arena.
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r Following the narrow victory Wednesday night, Rockets head coach Ryan Huska said momentum in the series has shifted.
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r “It is now a best of three series,” explained Huska. “You have to take advantage of your home games but now we have to find a way to win one game there.”
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r The Silvertips got off to the best of starts, winning the opening two games at home, but the Rockets have regained control and momentum following a 5-3 win Tuesday before Wednesday’s thrilling 5-4 victory.
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r Special teams have played a big part in Kelowna’s success and failure during the series. The team lost the opening two games in Everett in part because of an anemic power play. Kelowna managed only one goal in seven tries while with the man advantage on the road. But those power play woes quickly disappeared once the Rockets returned home and in games three and four Kelowna have scored four times in five tries.
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r Geordie Wudrick was the hero in Wednesday’s thriller, scoring the OT winner, but it was the strong play of Dallas Jackson that caught Huska’s eye.
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r “I thought he was really good and we are going to need that in Everett on Friday,” said Huska, who added that he’ll need the best out of veterans like Jackson if the Rockets hope to beat Everett tonight.
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r Huska said he still hasn’t decided who will start for the Rockets in net, with Adam Brown and Mark Guggenberger his two choices.
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r Following Wednesday night’s win. Huska said it would likely be Guggenberger, who stopped 38 shots in the double overtime win.
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r “We have decided anything yet,” he said. “But more than likely we will go with him.”
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r The Rockets travel south to take on the ‘Tips in game five tonight at 7:35 p.m., with game six slated for Prospera Place Saturday night at 7 p.m. If needed, game seven will be back in Everett on Monday with a 7:05 p.m puck drop.
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