Kelowna remain winless on U.S. soil, falling 5-3 in Everett Wednesday

Photo: Kristin Ostrowski

The Kelowna Rockets continue to look for their first win south of the border.

The Rockets fell to 0-3-0-2 in US Division buildings following Wednesday's 5-3 defeat at the hands of the Everett Silvertips.

Everett leads the Western Conference with 40 points, four better than the BC Division-leading Kamloops Blazers.

The Silvertips opened the scoring before former Tips forward Max Graham lit up his former team with his first of two.

Linemate Turner McMillen won a battle for the puck in the offensive corner, and slid it to Graham whose wrist shot from the boards alluded Braden Holt in the Everett net.

Kelowna took their only lead of the game just past the midway point of the second.

While killing a penalty, Pavel Novak won a race to the puck at the Kelowna blueline, tapped it past the defenceman manning the point, and raced down the left wing.

He was hauled down just inside the Everett blueline, but the referee determined he was clear enough to award a penalty shot.

Novak beat Holt on the glove side to put the Rockets up one.

But, three goals in a span of four-and-a-half minutes later in the second gave Everett a two-goal cushion.

Graham pulled the Rockets to within a goal early in the third, but a second power play marker from Niko Huuhtanen later in the third sealed it for the Silvertips.

Talyn Boyko was busy in the Rockets net. He turned away 43 of 48 shots fired his way as Everett outshout Kelowna 48-28.

The Rockets return home to complete a busy week.

They host Prince George Friday and Seattle Saturday.