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WHL  

Rockets, Blazers dead heat

There's nothing to choose between the Kelowna Rockets and Kamloops Blazers as they head to the final game of the regular season.

The two teams are deadlocked for the final BC Division playoff spot with 62 points each heading into game 68 Saturday night.

On Friday, the Rockets fell 2-1 in regulation time to the Vancouver Giants in Langley, while the Blazers grabbed a vital loser-point in a 5-4 overtime defeat at home to Prince George.

In Langley, Dylan Plouffe snapped a 1-1 tie with less than four minutes to go in regulation time in the Giants victory over the Rockets.

The goal came just 27 seconds after Michael Farren was set off for high sticking. It was the Giants only power play of the game.

After a scoreless first, Alex Kannok Leipert broke the deadlock, jamming the puck past Roman Basran during a scramble in front of the crease.

Kyle Crosbie tied it off the rush eight minutes later when his shot from the right faceoff circle beat Trent Miner five-hole.

The goaltenders were the difference the rest of the way until Plouffe ended it late in the third.

The Giants outshot Kelowna 31-18, including 8-2 during the decisive final period.

In Kamloops, Vladislav Mikhalchuk scored his second of the night with less than 90 seconds left in overtime, giving the Cougars a 5-4 win in Kamloops.

The Blazers led 2-1 after 40 before a wild third period in which the teams combined for five goals.

The Cougars scored three unanswered goals in less than nine minutes during the opening half of the period to take a 4-2 lead.

Kyrell Sopotyk cut the deficit to one on the power play, setting the stage for Connor Zary's game-tying marker in the final minute.

The Blazers close out the regular season Saturday in Prince George while the Rockets entertain the Giants in their regular season finale.

If the teams remain tied after Saturday, they would play a one-game tie-breaker next week in Kamloops to determine who faces the Victoria Royals in the opening round of the playoffs, and who goes home.

 



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