Rockets rally falls short

Photo: Wayne Moore - Castanet

Dillon Dube looks skyward as the puck enters the net after the whistle had blown.

The Portland Winterhawks were deadly in Game 2 of their playoff series against the Kelowna Rockets.

Portland won its ninth straight Game 2, Saturday with a 3-2 win over the Rockets to even their WHL Western Conference final series at a game apiece.

Nic Petan scored the game winner with a spectacular spin-o-rama backhand from the right faceoff circle that seemed to surprise Jackson Whislte. The shot, in the final minute of the second period, snuck between Whistle and the post, giving the Winterhawks a 3-2 lead and closing out the scoring.

"I've probably tried that 20 times in my career and it's never gone in, so I tried it one more time and it finally went in," said Petan of the game winner.

"I always try to catch them off guard, and luckily it kind of hit the pad and went in."

As was the case in Game 1, the Rockets found themselves down 2-0 and fought back to get the game back to even terms.

Unlike Friday, the Rockets were unable to to find the go-ahead goal.

"They did (push the pace) ... in a lot of areas they out competed us and wanted it a little more," said Rockets head coach Dan Lambert.

Paul Bittner got the Winterhawks on the board late in the first with their first power-play goal of the series.

Bittner tapped home a pretty centering pass from Chase De Leo into a wide-open net to make it 1-0.

The goal game moments after Bittner's helmet had been knocked off during a scrum beside the Rockets net. With the puck in Portland's zone, Bittner was heading to the bench but elected to stay on the ice when his teammates regained possession of the puck and moved back up ice.

Dominic Turgeon doubled the lead just past the midway point of the second period when he banged home a centering pass from Miles Koules.

As they did in Game 1, the Rockets battled back thanks to special teams.

Rourke Chartier scored his ninth of the playoffs and second of the series on a power-play at 13:29. Nick Merkley did most of the work as he circled from the corner boards to the edge of the crease and slid a pass to Chartier in the far faceoff circle.

Chartier's quick shot beat Adin Hill to the short side.

Two minutes later, Dillon Dube scored his second of the playoffs on another power-play to even the score at 2-2.

Dube was the trigger man on a pretty three-way passing play with Merkley and Madison Bowey. Dube's one-timer beat Hill from the slot.

Less than five minutes later, Petan sealed the deal.

"I think in last night's game, in the second and third, we came out hard and had more pace to our game," said Merkley.

"Tonight, I thought we were a little sloppy and didn't have that pace."

The Rockets had some chances in the final period to get back on even terms and force overtime, but Hill was equal to the task each time.

Kelowna had the puck in the Portland end with Whistle on the bench, but again were unable to find the equalizer.

Merkley had perhaps the best chance, but his 25-foot wrist shot was gobbled up by Hill.

"We have to be better. If we want to beat a team like them, that knows how to win and they've been there, we have to be better," said Lambert.

"At the end of the day, our best players have to be our best players, and right now that's not the case."

Petan said the difference Saturday may have been that the Winterhawks wanted it just a little more.

"We made those key saves that we didn't last game and we got in front of pucks in the last few minutes. Those were key defensive plays," said Petan.

The series now shifts to Portland for Games 3 and 4 Tuesday and Wednesday. Saturday's win guaranteed there will be at least one more game at Prospera Place. That will take place next Friday.