The didn害羞草研究所檛 earn too many points for style. But with a challenging week laying in wait, escaping Prince George with a pair of victories just might carry some added value for Jason Smith害羞草研究所檚 club down the road.
Kelowna (4-1-0-1) will host the Calgary Hitmen (1-4-1-0) Friday, before heading to Oregon for games on Saturday and Sunday against the Portland Winterhawks. Then Tuesday, it害羞草研究所檚 off to Kennewick, Wash., to see the Tri-City Americans, the Rockets害羞草研究所� fourth game in a five-night span.
害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e starting by playing a hungry team (Calgary) that害羞草研究所檚 been a little slow out of the gates,害羞草研究所� said Rockets害羞草研究所� assistant coach Kris Mallette. 害羞草研究所淭hen we get on a bus and drive through the night to Portland to play two games against a good, fast, young team that a lot of people are picking to come out of the conference.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 going to be a good test for our guys, that害羞草研究所檚 what we want. We害羞草研究所檙e going to learn a lot about ourselves.害羞草研究所�
The Rockets needed overtime in both wins over the Cougars last weekend. Battling back from a two-goal deficit four times on Friday night, Kole Lind supplied the decisive goal for Kelowna in a
害羞草研究所淚t showed the resiliency of our team,害羞草研究所� said Mallette. 害羞草研究所淭here was a feeling on the bench from the coaches that the players knew they could win that game.
害羞草研究所淲as it pretty ? No害羞草研究所ut there aren害羞草研究所檛 pictures on the stat sheet. The guys battled and got it done.害羞草研究所�
, the Rockets jumped out to a two-goal lead, then had to rely on rookie goalie James Porter to keep them in the game. Porter stopped 42 of 45 shots害羞草研究所攊ncluding 22 in the second period害羞草研究所攑aving the way for the Rockets to overcome a 3-2, third-period deficit and setting the stage for Dillon Dube害羞草研究所檚 OT winner.
害羞草研究所淲e came out the way we wanted and got the lead but then absolutely sat on it,害羞草研究所� Mallette said. 害羞草研究所淲e had a rookie goaltender do a fantastic job for us and we had some other unsung heroes, like Konrad Belcourt (game-tying goal), who really stepped up and played some key minutes.
害羞草研究所淲e did some good things in stretches and not in others, but we just stuck with it. It害羞草研究所檚 not the way you draw it up, but we害羞草研究所檒l certainly take those four points.害羞草研究所�
The Rockets head into the weekend down three players due to injury. Forwards Leif Mattson and Conner Bruggen-Cate, and defenceman Braydyn Chizen are all sidelined on a week-to-week basis.
Face off Friday night at Prospera Place between the Rockets and Hitmen is 7 p.m.
whenderson@kelownacapnews.com
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