Line-ups: Kelowna and Prince George Game 2
The Kelowna Rockets defeated the Prince George Cougars 7-4 Saturday night at Prospera Place in Kelowna, taking a 2-0 series lead on the Cougars in their best of seven WHL Western Conference quarterfinal series.
Trailing 4-3 heading into the third period, the Rockets scored four third period goals to win 7-4.
Cody Chikie tied the game at 4-4 before Jessey Astles ripped home his first of the playoffs–the eventual winner–to make the score 5-4. Kevin Smith and Geordie Wudrick, into an empty net, also scored in the third period.
“It was a great job by Sissons to keep the play going and working his butt off to get the puck loose,” Astles said on the AM1150 post game show. “It felt great to score.”
It was a back and forth game with each team scoring in rapid succession. The Cougars led 1-0 after the first period. Zak Stebner and Colton Sissons scored quick goals to start the second and give Kelowna the lead.
The Cougars though would score three straight to take a 4-2 lead as Wilson Dumais and Sena Acolatse did the damage. Tyson Barrie would make the score 4-3 before the end of the second with a highlight reel goal that brought the Rockets to within a goal heading to the third period
View photos from the game here
The series now shifts to Prince George for games three and four Tuesday and Wednesday night. A potential game five would be back in Kelowna next Friday night.
“They’re going to come out strong,” said Astles. “They have good skill and they’re a strong team so it’s going to be a battle.”
Scratches:
Kelowna – Mitchell Chapman, Evan Bloodoff, Jason Siebert, Max Adolph, Madison Bowey
Prince George – Brett Connolly, Caleb Belter, Shane Pilling, Tayler Thompson
Starting Goalies:
Kelowna – Adam Brown
Prince George – Ty Rimmer
