The Kamloops Blazers won the game they desperately needed.
Trailing 2-0 in their best-of-seven WHL first round series, the Blazers took advantage of home ice and a raucous crowd in a 4-1 win over the Rockets Tuesday night.
Kamloops trail the series 2-1 with game four in Kamloops Wednesday.
It also means a fifth game will be played Friday at Prospera Place.
Lane Bauer, who hadn't scored in 10 games, scored twice for the Blazers, including the all important first goal.
Bauer and linemate Rudolfs Balcers executed a perfect give-and-go on a two-on-one break eight minutes into the opening period.
Kole Lind tied it before the end of the period, but Kamloops took over in the second. Despite being outshot 19-11, they scored the only three goals to take a commanding 4- lead.
Jermaine Loewen with what stood up at the game winner, Balcers 28 seconds later on a penalty shot, and Bauer again from the top of the right circle allowed the Blazers to pull away.
Neither team was able to score in the third.
The game threatened to get out of hand late in the game.
A pair of late skirmishes, including one after the final whistle sounded had the potential to become something more, but cooler heads eventually prevailed.
Both teams had 38 shots on the night but neither had any success on the power play.
Kamloops was 0-5 while the Rockets failed on their two chances.