Sports

Jackson Whistle saved his best for last.

Photo: Wayne Moore - Castanet

Jackson Whistle stopped 25 shots leading the Kelowna Rockets to a 3-2 win over the Edmonton Oil Kings Wednesday

In his first season in Kelowna Whistle stopped 25 shots leading the Rockets to a 3-2 victory over the visiting Edmonton Oil Kings at Prospera Place Wednesday.

The win avenges the Rockets 5-3 loss in Edmonton 11 days ago.

Whistle, making his second straight start for injured Jordon Cooke,  was at his best with the game on the line.

Leading 3-2 Whistle was forced to make three huge saves from in close in the final 15 seconds.

"I didn't have a chance to think. I just reacted as best I could," Whistle stated after the game.

Minutes earlier, Whistle made another spectacular save off Travis Ewanyk from the edge of the crease.

After the Oil Kings stole the puck deep in Rockets territory, Ewanyk took a perfect feed from Henrik Samuelsson on what was a close-in two-on-none break.

Rookie Rourke Chartier scored what proved to be the game winner three minutes into the third period.

A shot from Riley Stadel at the left point hit a defenceman in front of the Edmonton net.

Photo: Wayne Moore - Castanet

Henrik Nyberg scored once in Wednesday's Rockets win

The rebound slid to Chartier who, with his back to the net, spun and fired a wrist shot all in one motion. The puck went high, glove side.

After Stephen Shmoorkoff opened the scoring for the Oil King 4:38 into the game the Rockets would get the equalizer and go-ahead goals 53 seconds apart.

Tyson Baillie knotted it at 1-1 converting a cross crease pass from Colton Heffley on a two-on-none breakaway following a sloppy Oil Kings change.

Seconds later Henrik Nyberg scored his third of the season to put the Rockets up for the first time.

Ewanyk pulled the Oil Kings even converting a pretty three way passing play just 24 seconds into the second.

Chartier, who scored his first game winner of the season, had a chance to get one earlier in the game.

After Oil Kings goaltender Laurent Brossoit mishandled the puck at the side of the net, Chartier tapped it in front but was unable to control it long enough to slide it into the empty net.

The first period goal by Edmonton ended the Rockets shutout string at 179 minutes and 59 seconds.

The Rockets have now won four in a row and five straight on home ice.

They will conclude their four game homestand Friday when the Red Deer Rebels come to town.