After losing games one and two in Prince George by a combined score of 9-0, while being outshot 77-37, the Kelowna Rockets knew they needed to bounce back in a major way on Tuesday.
They did just that in front of the home crowd in game three, outshooting the Cougars 35-33 and finally solving Joshua Ravensbergen to the tune of three goals.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough, as the Rockets dropped a heartbreaker in overtime, 4-3, which means their season is on the line in game four tonight.
Cougars take it in OT, but tomorrow's a new day.
— Kelowna Rockets (@Kelowna_Rockets) April 17, 2024
Be here to cheer us on in the biggest game of the season. Get your š now at https://t.co/Pqugld3Pg9 pic.twitter.com/rNotiVWGcv
"You work so hard and it's a game of inches, you take a half a second off on the back check and it's in the back of your net,” head coach Kris Mallette said of the overtime goal. “It's tough because our guys competed, they played."
It wasn’t the start the Rockets were hoping for in a vital game, as Hudson Thornton opened the scoring for the Cougars on the powerplay just 4:19 into the first period.
Kelowna responded less than a minute later, however, as Ethan Neutens buried his first goal of the postseason on a slick feed from Caden Price.
Then, just 51 seconds after that, it was Michael Cicek giving Kelowna its first lead of the series with a shot from a similar spot to where Neutens had scored less than a minute earlier.
Wednesday's game against Prince George is a must win or else our season comes to an end.
— Kelowna Rockets (@Kelowna_Rockets) April 17, 2024
We can't do it without the noise of you in the crowd. Be there to bring it š https://t.co/Pqugld4n5H pic.twitter.com/ikPACAY52F
The two quick goals got the home crowd back into the game and the Rockets held onto that 2-1 lead through the first half of the middle frame, but Prince George tied it up with another powerplay goal, this time from Ondrej Becher.
With just under 10 minutes to play in regulation, Borya Valis beat Jari Kykkanen with his fifth of the playoffs to put the Cougars ahead 3-2.
But the Rockets weren’t willing to go quietly, and Gabriel Szturc matched Valis’ effort with his own fifth goal of the playoffs around four minutes later.
The captain’s goal forced overtime, but it was a short-lived one, as Matteo Danis banged home a rebound just 82 seconds into the extra frame to give Prince George the win and a 3-0 series lead.
GAME. SET. MATCH.
— The WHL (@TheWHL) April 17, 2024
Matteo Danis nets the game-winner 1:22 into overtime for the @PGCougars!#WHLPlayoffs | #FeedingtheFuture pic.twitter.com/DoHlue297f
"We did a lot of really good things today, our compete, our sacrifice. It was there and we had opportunities, we hit some posts and we worked hard,” explained Mallette post-game.
“We have to take that same mindset into tomorrow, we have to play the same way or better because if we don't we know what the end result is."
As the coach alluded to, it’s do-or-die for the Rockets tonight as they must find a way to beat the powerhouse Cougars if they want to travel back to Prince George for game five.
Puck drop from Prospera Place is 7:05 pm and tickets are still available online, by calling 250-762-5050 or in person at the Prospera box office.
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