Rockets upset in shootout

Photo: Wayne Moore

The Prince George Cougars played a classic road game.

The undermanned squad got solid goaltending and hung around just long enough to find the equalizer in the final period, then outgunned the Kelowna Rockets 2-1 in the shootout to escape Prospera Place with a 2-1 victory.

After an indifferent opening 20 minutes, the Rockets found their legs and dominated much of the second period.

They were finally rewarded when Connor Bruggen-Cate connected from a sharp on a Kelowna power play.

Lane Zablocki grabbed a loose puck on the end-line after the Cougars failed to clear a bouncing puck. He fed Bruggen-Cate who zipped a shot short side past a startled Taylor Gauthier, who had been perfect up to then.

The Rockets could have had more. Michael Farren's one-timer with half a net to shoot at deflected off Gauthier's mask as he dove to cover the empty side.

Leif Mattson had a chance for a clear breakaway, but couldn't control the bouncing puck at the PG blueline.

The Cougars dominated the third, holding the Rockets to just a single shot while buzzing around the Kelowna end themselves.

They finally got the equalizer midway through the third.

Tyson Upper deflected home Rhett Rhinehart's one-timer from the point with Zablocki in the box for a questionable tripping call. The Prince George player appeared to step on Zablocki's stick, leading to the penalty.

The Rockets had the better of the play during the five minute three-on-three overtime, but were unable to capitalize. Lassi Thomson had the best chance, but hit the post as he led a two-on-one break.

Upper scored the game winner in the shootout, beating James Porter with a deke to the forehand. Nolan Foote for the Rockets and Vladislav Mikhalchuk also scored for their respective teams earlier in the shootout.

"It wasn't our best game. It didn't seem we had out legs tonight," said Rockets head coach Adam Foote.

"We were up 1-0 and it would have been nice to get the next one, but we didn't."

Foote said the Rockets weren't hanging back trying to protect the lead in the third period.

"We have not changed one thing when we've had a lead. They got the last three power plays, and they generated some shots off those, so the shots may have been misleading.

"It wasn't what Prince George did, it was what we didn't do. I think today it was one of those you chalk up...for some reason, we didn't have our legs."

Porter turned away 27 shots as the Rockets were outshot 28-27 by the Cougars.

The Rockets, who have picked up points in their last four games (2-0-1-1), close out the weekend Saturday night in Kamloops.