Rockets survive Hurricane

Photo: Cindy Adachi

Kole Lind scored his second goal of the game with 27 seconds left in three-on-three overtime, as the Kelowna Rockets edged the Lethbridge Hurricanes 4-3 Wednesday.

It was the first game of a three-game Alberta road trip for the Rockets, who moved back into top spot in the Western Conference of the WHL, a point better than US Division leading Everett.

The Rockets never trailed, until Igor Merezhko snapped a 2-2 tie with six minutes to go in regulation time.

It nearly held up as the game winner but, with goaltender Cole Tisdale on the bench for an extra attacker, Carsen Twarynski ripped home his team-leading 31st of the season with 38 seconds left to force overtime.

Rookie defenceman Kaedan Korczak with his second, also scored for the Rockets.

After a scoreless first, Korczak opened the scoring 20 seconds into the middle frame. The lead help up mere seconds before Jadon Joseph tied it.

Lind's first midway through the second on the power play restored the one-goal lead, but Jordy Bellerive tied it again with two minutes to go in the period.

The Rockets peppered 49 shots at Lethbridge netminder Reece Klassen, including 19 during a dominant third period and another six in overtime.

Tisdale, making his second straight start, turned away 24 shots to run his record to 2-0.

The 15-year-old was called up from AAA Midget in Lethbridge last week on an emergency basis after fellow rookies James Porter and Roman Basran went down with injuries.

Lind stretched his point-streak to a league high 16 games with his two goals Wednesday.

The Rockets were without forward Dillon Dube, out with an undisclosed injury.

The Rockets road trip continues Friday in Medicine Hat and Saturday in Red Deer.

They're back home again next Tuesday when Medicine Hat makes a return visit to Prospera Place.