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Yes, it was a wild one, down 4-1 at one point, the Rockets rallied and 71 shots later they had a game four victory in dramatic fashion. The overtime goal by Gage Quinney 18:32 in gave the Rockets the series sweep.
The Kelowna Rockets started off dominating the Americans out-shooting them 16-0 before Tri-City managed even one shot. The 17th shot of the game was booked as a goal and it was the first shot on Jackson Whistle. Dylan Coghlan was credited for his first goal of the playoffs at the 11:28 mark of the game, Tyler Sandu with the assist.
The first goal sparked the Americans, giving them a momentum shift. After the goal, they recorded six more shots on the Rockets before Coghlan and Sandu would team up again. This time it was Sandu with the goal and Coghlan getting the assist.
The first period ended in a 2-0 hole for the Rockets, shots at 20-7 in favour of the Rockets.
Thirty seconds into the second, Rourke Chartier scored his first of the game and third of the playoffs to make it 2-1. Nick Merkley and Riley Stadel were given the assists.
Rourke Chartier with goals 4 goals and 2 assists in four games Linemate Nick Merkley with 6 points as well, 5 of them assists . (photo credit KelownaNow)
A flurry of goals in the last six minutes of the second, four of them to be exact, the first two from Tri-City, one from Richard Nejezchleb and a short handed goal from last night's goal scorer, Beau McCue. The McCue goal brought relief goaltender Michael Herringer into the game relieving Jackson Whistle who allowed four goals in 19 shots. Herringer faced 11 shots and made 11 saves in relief.
That gave Tri-City a 4-1 lead with less than three minutes to go in the second.
The Rockets responded in the last two minutes with two quick goals, Madison Bowey with a power-play goal and Rourke Chartier with his second goal of the game made it 4-3 to end the second period.
Eric Comrie faced 71 shots in the game. He played every minute in the four games for the Americans. (photo credit KelownaNow)
Bowey blasted one past Eric Comrie 37 seconds into the third to tie the game at four. Shots at 40-19 in favour of the Rockets at that point.
Comrie boarded up the net after that, facing 16 shots in the third period and a total of 54 in three periods. The Americans only managed four shots in the third and a total of 23 in the three periods.
Overtime would be needed to determine if it was a sweep or a game five for Tri-City.
Gage Quinney would be the hero scoring his first goal of the playoffs and his first ever career WHL playoff goal.
This is the first time in Rockets franchise history that they have swept a US based team in the first round. Final score 5-4 for the Rockets, shots 71-30 in favour of Kelowna.
The Rockets now await their next opponent. (photo credit KelownaNow)
On a side note: the Regina Pats have eliminated the Swift Current Broncos in four straight ending former Rockets forward Carter Rigby's WHL career.
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