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The Kelowna Rockets snapped their three-game losing streak with a 4-3 comeback shootout victory over the Vancouver Giants on Friday night at Prospera Place.
The Rockets fell behind 2-0 in the first period, trailing 3-1 after two periods of play the Rockets were able to stage a comeback in the third period to force the game into extra time.
Kelowna headed to their second shootout of the season where Gabriel Szturc scored the lone goal of the skills competition, while goaltender Jari Kykkanen turned aside the three shots he faced.
"The chances that we were able to generate throughout the whole game and not be rewarded for it were a little frustrating, to say the least," said Rockets head coach Kris Mallette in his postgame interview.
"Two of their goals went in off of bad bounces on our group. But credit to the guys in our room, they stayed positive and were energetic on the bench, and then to score late was awesome."
GAME SUMMARY
With Adam Kydd sitting in the box for high-sticking, the Giants were able to take the first lead of the game 7:02 into the first. A minute and twenty-five seconds later, Mazden Leslie (12) pushed Vancouver out to a two-goal lead.
Adam Kydd (18) made it a one-goal game while on the power play 4:07 into the second period, but Ty Thorpe (33) answered for Vancouver a minute and a half later. The Rockets lost Carson Golder for the remained of the game moments later after he hit Samuel Honzek along the boards, he was handed a game misconduct and a five-minute major of checking to the head.
Jesper Vikman made a couple of big saves before the puck made its way through the blue paint to Max Graham (10) at the backdoor. With the Rockets net empty, Andrew Cristall's (35) one-timer tied the game at three with 1:29 to go in regulation.
A shootout was needed to decide the game-winner.
The Rockets shot first in the shootout. Gabriel Szturc (goal), Andrew Cristall (X), and Marcus Pacheco (X) fired for Kelowna.
Jaden Lipinski (X), Ty Halaburda (X) and Skyler Bruce were shooters for Vancouver.
ADDITIONAL STATS
- Jari Kykkanen made 23 saves on 26 shots
- Adam Kydd was the game’s first star, Max Graham was the second and Mazden Leslie was the third star
- Kelowna was 1/3 on the power play, while the Giants were 1/3 on the man advantage
- The Rockets record is now 24-34-3-0
UP NEXT
The Rockets busy weekend will continue tomorrow night at 7:05 pm in Spokane and will then wrap up with a 4:05 pm game on Sunday in Tri-City.
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