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Rourke Chartier takes the opening face-off in game one of the best of seven
In one of the best games at Prospera Place in a long time, the Kelowna Rockets pulled off a comeback 5-4 victory in game one of the best of seven series against the Portland Winterhawks.
The building was electric and Portland did what they had to do to try and take the crowd out of it, scoring their first goal 33 seconds in. They added two power play goals to take a 3-0 lead by the 12:19 mark of the first.
A pretty big hole against a very good team indeed. Kelowna's Tyson Baillie netted one to get Kelowna on the board. Madison Bowey's shorthanded goal in the dying seconds of the first gave Kelowna a chance to fight back.
Portland would add one more in the second before Kelowna would take over the game. Kelowna added three unanswered goals to finish with the 5-4 win. Rourke Chartier, Justin Kirkland and Jesse Lees with the game winner. Portland only managed four shots to Kelowna's fourteen in the third.
Attendance at Prospera Place was 6,218 and Coach Huska on the AM1150 post game show credited the crowd for its energy.
"That was the best crowd since '09 probably," he said. "Even when we were down, they had a lot to do with us getting back into the game. They were very loud which was nice."
The series continues on Saturday night with game two at Prospera Place in Kelowna.
Carter Rigby had some big hits in the game
The sellout crowd was one of the best we have seen in a long time. Game two will be a tough to pass on after witnessing game one.
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Justin Kirkland, the game's third star with a goal and two assists.
Brendan Burke made 31 saves on 36 shots. He appeared to have trouble tracking the puck several times during the game.
Rourke Chartier knocked off stride gets right back up and scores later in the same shift.
Jesse Lees celebrates the game winning goal with the game's first star, Tyson Baillie who had a goal and two assists.
Jordon Cooke was brilliant as usual when he needed to be.
Game Summary
Portland Winterhawks 4 at Kelowna Rockets 5 - Status: Final
Friday, April 18, 2014 - Prospera Place - Kelowna, BC
Portland 3 1 0 - 4
Kelowna 2 1 2 - 5
1st Period-1, Portland, Bjorkstrand 10 (De Leo), 0:33. 2, Portland, Bjorkstrand 11 (Petan, Leipsic), 5:49 (PP). 3, Portland, De Leo 6 (Bittner, Pouliot), 12:19 (PP). 4, Kelowna, Baillie 4 (Kirkland, Cooke), 13:08. 5, Kelowna, Bowey 4 (Goulbourne), 19:33 (SH). Penalties-Baillie Kel (interference), 5:04; Merkley Kel (hooking), 10:56; Schoenborn Por (slashing), 13:14; Leipsic Por (cross checking), 16:45; Severson Kel (tripping), 19:16.
2nd Period-6, Portland, Texeira 1 (Turgeon, Schoenborn), 15:43. 7, Kelowna, Chartier 6 (Merkley), 16:26. Penalties-Hanson Por (roughing), 2:14; Linaker Kel (inter. on goaltender, roughing), 2:14; Schoenborn Por (high sticking), 5:34; Leipsic Por (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 8:13; Goulbourne Kel (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 8:13.
3rd Period-8, Kelowna, Kirkland 4 (Bowey, Baillie), 4:17 (PP). 9, Kelowna, Lees 1 (Baillie, Kirkland), 5:59. Penalties-De Champlain Por (interference), 3:57; Goulbourne Kel (charging), 11:27; Dumba Por (roughing), 15:58; Severson Kel (roughing), 15:58; Petan Por (checking to the head), 20:00.
Shots on Goal-Portland 6-16-4-26. Kelowna 13-9-14-36.
Power Play Opportunities-Portland 2 / 5; Kelowna 1 / 4.
Goalies-Portland, Burke 8-2-0-0 (36 shots-31 saves). Kelowna, Cooke 9-1-0-0 (26 shots-22 saves).
A-6,218
Referees-Sean Raphael (28), Reagan Vetter (39).
Linesmen-Mike Langin (67), Nathan Van Oosten (115).
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