T-Birds defence blankets Rockets

Photo: Wayne Moore - Castanet

Taran Kozun denies Rockets Rodney Southam, one of the 36 saves he made Friday.

The Seattle Thunderbirds weathered the first 10 minutes then played a textbook road game in dumping the hometown Kelowna Rockets 5-2 before 5,500 fans at Prospera Place Friday.

The Rockets were the better team for much of the opening 20 minutes...dominating on the shot clock 10-1 by the midway point of the period.

Rodney Southam replacing Rourke Chartier on the top line had a couple of good looks early but couldn't beat Seattle goaltender Taran Kozun.

Kelowna had a glorious chance later in the period when Gage Quinney stole the puck in front of Kozun and, instead of shooting fed Tomas Soustal at the edge of the crease. The pass was too far ahead forcing Soustal to flip the puck wide.

Despite the edge in play it was the T-Birds who grabbed a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes.

Roberts Lipsbergs and Scott Eansor scored 58 seconds apart in the final two minutes to take control of the contest.

Nick Merkley got the Rockets rolling early in the second with his 14th off a centering feed from Tyrell Goulbourne.

However, any momentum the Rockets could have gained was doused 15 seconds when Cory Millette restored the two goal lead.

It was the T-Birds third goal on their previous four shots on Rockets netminder Jackson Whistle.

Whistle's night came to a premature end 62 seconds into the third when Shea Theodore's blast from the right faceoff circle found the net short side on a T-Birds power-play.

Madison Bowey got one back with six minutes left but the Rockets really didn't test Kozun after that.

Keegan Kolesar iced it into an empty net in the dying seconds.

A dejected assistant coach Kris Mallette said on the post game radio show the loss left a bad taste in his mouth.

"We were having success because we were moving our feet and finding the open holes," said Mallette of the Rockets start.

"They got that first goal....then a missed assignment and it's 2-0."

Kozun, the game's first star faced 38 shots and got some help from the goalpost in the second period when Leon Draisaitl blew past a defender but his quick wrist shot hit the near side goal post and stayed out.

Kelowna was held without a goal on its two chances with the man advantage while Seattle was 1-4.

The T-Birds have now won nine of their last 11 while the Rockets have dropped two of three on their current five game homestand.

The Rockets get a full week to practice before closing out the homestand with back-to-back games against the US Division leading Everett Silvertips next Friday and Saturday.