The Kelowna Rockets defeated the Seattle Thunderbirds 3-2 in overtime Friday night at Prospera Place.
The T-Birds play the Portland Winterhawks on Saturday at 6:05pm at accesso ShoWare Center.
The T-Birds are now 18-22-3-1 and are in the second Wild Card playoff spot in the Western Conference, seven points ahead of the Tri-City Americans who are 14-24-4-1. Vancouver, with a record of 19-20-2-2, is in the first Wild Card playoff spot, two points ahead of the T-Birds with a game in hand.
Kelowna took a 1-0 lead at 3:11 of the first period on a goal by Pavel Novak.
Seattle tied the game at 18:20 of the first. Tyrel Bauer stopped a Kelowna shot in the slot and skated into the right circle. Bauer made a diagonal stretch pass to Conner Roulette streaking up the left wing. Roulette took the pass and was behind the defense for a breakaway. Roulette came in on Kelowna goalie Cole Schwebius moving left to right and went forehand then backhand and put the puck between the goalie’s legs.
Max Patterson gave the T-Birds a 2-1 lead at 12:36 of the second period. Simon Kubicek took a shot from the left point with Patterson in the slot. Kubicek’s shot hit Patterson and rebounded into the air going over Schwebius and into the net. It was Patterson’s seventh goal of the season.
Kelowna tied the game 2-2 with 1:52 left in the third period on a goal from Mark Liwiski.
Matthew Wedman scored at 1:02 of overtime to get the Rockets the win.
SCORING SUMMARY
First period – 1, Kelowna, Novak 17 (Feist, Swetlikoff), 3:11. 2, Seattle, Roulette 15 (Bauer), 18:20. Penalties – Bauer, Sea (high-sticking), 4:54. Lee, Kel (tripping), 14:20.
Second period – 3, Seattle, Patterson 7 (Kubicek), 12:36. Penalties – Sanders, Sea (slashing), 7:42.
Third period – 4, Kelowna, Liwiski 6 (Comrie, Novak), 18:08. Penalties – Bauer, Sea (interference), 9:42. Gottfried, Sea (slashing), 20:00.
Overtime – 5, Kelowna, Wedman 11 (Peterek), 3:58. Penalties – No penalties.
Shots on goal – Seattle 8-11-13-0 32, Kelowna 9-9-9-3 30. Goalies – Seattle, Ross 30 shots-27 saves (14-16-3-1); Kelowna, Schwebius 32-30 (6-9-0-0). Power plays – Seattle 0-1; Kelowna 0-4. Referees – Mike Campbell, Nick Panter. Linesmen – Brett Mackey, Michael McGowan.
