It害羞草研究所檚 all come down to a best-of-three.
With a trip to the Western Hockey League害羞草研究所檚 championship series beckoning, the Kelowna Rockets and Seattle Thunderbirds meet tonight in Game 5 of the Western Conference final in Kent, Wash.
While the stakes get higher with each passing game, Rockets害羞草研究所� head coach Jason Smith said little will change in the way his club prepares for the task ahead.
害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檒l take the steps we need to make sure we害羞草研究所檙e ready to play the game,害羞草研究所� Smith said. 害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檒l make sure we get rest, food and hydration and just move forward.
害羞草研究所淚 think we gotta worry about what we害羞草研究所檙e doing as a team and what we害羞草研究所檙e doing as a group, making sure we害羞草研究所檙e taking care of what we can control,害羞草研究所� Smith added. 害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e not worried about what they害羞草研究所檙e doing.害羞草研究所�
What the Thunderbirds did was get the upper hand in the series with a 2-1 win on Tuesday night, as Keegan Kolesar scored the decisive goal with just 20 seconds remaining in the game.
On Wednesday, in what Smith害羞草研究所檚 club considered a must-win scenario, the Rockets rebounded for a 4-2 win to even the series and assure a Game 6 would be played on Sunday in Kelowna.
To move on in the playoffs, the Rockets will have to win at least one more time on Thunderbirds害羞草研究所� ice.
Rockets rookie Nolan Foote said that victory might as well come on Friday night.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 huge for us to go into Seattle with this win,害羞草研究所� said Foote who connected for his first playoff goal in the Game 4 victory. 害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檝e gotta go down there and get the win, come back to Kelowna with the home crowd and finish them off.害羞草研究所�
Game 6 of the Western Conference championship will face off at 5:05 p.m. Sunday at Prospera Place.
A seventh game, if needed, is set for Tuesday, May 2 in Kent.
Stephens signs with Sabres害羞草研究所�
Rockets害羞草研究所� defenceman took the next step towards a pro career this week, signing a three-year entry level deal with the NHL害羞草研究所檚 Buffalo Sabres.
Stephens, 20, was drafted by the Sabres in the fifth round, 122nd overall in the 2015 NHL draft.
A native of Surrey, Stephens is in his third season with the Rockets during which time he has collected 19 goals and 57 points in 203 games while posting a +56 rating and 166 penalty minutes. He also added 12 assists, and a +5 rating in 50 career playoff games.
The 6-foot-1, 176-pound rearguard led Kelowna害羞草研究所檚 blueline corps in goals this season with 13, while adding 22 assists in 67 games.
Stephens was a member of the Rockets害羞草研究所� WHL championship team in the 2014-2015 season.
