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WHL  

Rockets late push falls short

A late 5-on-3 powerplay brought the Kelowna Rockets close, but not close enough, to breaking even with the Oshawa Generals in their third game of the MasterCard Memorial Cup.

The loss drops the Rockets to a 1-2 record at the end of round robin play.

Ken Appleby came up with a pair of big saves and captain Josh Brown provided a valuable shot block as Oshawa withstood the late Kelowna 5-on-3 powerplay to hold on for a 2-1 victory. The win sees the Generals punch their ticket to the MasterCard Memorial Cup Final on Sunday with a 3-0 record.

In the end, Oshawa would hold Kelowna to just 21 shots, with 11 of those coming in the third period. The Generals were disciplined as well, holding Kelowna's WHL-leading powerplay to just three opportunities.

The first period saw both clubs feel each other out in a chess match of sorts. Neither side wanted to make a mistake as both goaltenders were relatively untested in a period of forechecking and regular physicality.

Cole Cassels and company went on the offensive in the second, hitting the scoresheet in the opening five minutes.

After Whistle made a fine save off Michael Dal Colle from close quarters, the Generals would make good on their second attempt moments later as Dakota Mermis found a wide open Cassels cocked and loaded for a one-timer at 4:15.

Ken Appleby did his part a few shifts later when the Rockets got on the game's first powerplay. The 6'4" goaltender used his big wingspan to get a blocker on San Jose Sharks prospect Rourke Chartier's hard slapshot from a scoring area and keep the Generals ahead.

Oshawa was rock solid defensively for the first 15 minutes of the second as the blueliners held their ground while backchecking forwards frustrated the Kelowna attack through the neutral zone. Oshawa's defence stepped up effectively as the Rockets had trouble gaining the offensive zone to create much in the way of scoring chances.

The Rockets looked to be making some ground with just under three minutes to go in the period, hemming the Generals in for a period before Oshawa won a battle inside their own blueline, springing Tobias Lindberg on a two-on-one with Sam Harding. The Swedish shooter would opt to hold on to the puck, outwaiting a sprawling Rockets defender before sending a toe-drag snapshot through the legs of Whistle at 2:44.

The Rockets weren't about to end the second period on a sour note though.

Tyson Baillie made a heads up play, finding Gage Quinney busting through the Oshawa defence, finding him with a saucer pass as Quinney did the rest, banging in his MasterCard Memorial Cup leading fourth goal to bring Kelowna within one.

Oshawa went to the dressing room with a 2-1 lead, outshooting Kelowna 21-10 through 40 minutes.

The Kelowna scoring chances started coming early in the third as Chartier could beat Appleby, but not the iron from the top of the circle as Oshawa remained in the lead.

The Rockets came close shifts later when Dillon Dube was left alone on the doorstep off an offensive zone faceoff victory, only to be thwarted by the big frame of Appleby in position to make the save.

Appleby was called upon again beyong the midway point of the third as Edmonton Oilers first round pick Leon Draisaitl got himself into a scoring position with the Oshawa goaltender out of position. Somehow, Appleby scrambled back to make the save, getting his stick on Draisaitl's attempt to further frustrate Kelowna's efforts.

The Rockets kept pressing.

Nick Merkley, who had picked up three goals in Kelowna's first two games, nearly potted his fourth but the goalpost yet again saved the Generals as Appleby made the initial save before the puck fluttered off his pad and glanced off the iron.

After an Oshawa kneeing penalty at 15:36 followed up by a delay of game penalty a minute later, the Rockets had their golden opportunity to draw even.

A great display of penalty killing, paired with a nice save or two by Appleby in the Oshawa goal would be enough to see the OHL Champion Generals hold on for the win, improving their record to a perfect 3-0 as they're off to the MasterCard Memorial Cup Final on Sunday.

Kelowna wraps up the round robin with a 1-2 record and with the 2-1 loss, puts themselves in a good position to play in a tie-breaker game on Thursday. Their fate will rest in the outcome of a President Cup Final rematch between the host Québec Remparts and QMJHL Champion Rimouski Océanic on Wednesday.

Wednesday's game gets underway at 7:30pm and can be seen across the country on Sportsnet and in Québec on TVA Sports.

- Mastercardmemorialcup.ca



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