Rockets Fall Behind 2-0

After going unbeaten in 10 regular season overtime games, the Kelowna Rockets have found the extra period anything but kind.

For the second night in a row, the Rockets forced overtime late in the third period, only to watch the Tri City Americans celebrate the extra-period winner. On this night, the Americans scored a 4-3 victory, grabbing a commanding 2-0 lead in this best of 7 Western Conference semi-final. Marcus Jonasen scored the winning goal on a wrist shot from the left face-off circle at 1:16 of overtime, beating Rockets goaltender Kelly Guard through the five-hole.

The Rockets played two of their worst periods of hockey all season over the first 40 minutes, generating just 11 shots, while falling behind 3-0. Ryan Kinasewich and Matt Schneider in the opening period and Ian McDonald in the second scored for Tri-City, who looked like they would cruise to an easy victory.

Rockets head coach Marc Habscheid juggled the lines a bit in the third, and the move appeared to pay off, as the Rockets stormed out of the gate in the third. Simon Ferguson celebrated his 21st birthday with a wicked wrist shot just 23 seconds into the third to get the Rockets on the board. Troy Bodie cut the lead to 1 at 6:47 on a power play, before Tyler Mosienko banged home a rebound with Guard on the bench at 19:21, sending the game into overtime.

The Rockets outshot Tri-City 18-3 in the final period. However, the momentum didn't carry into overtime, as a brief defensive lapse allowed the Americans to end the game quickly. The Rockets, who had the best regular season road record in the Western Hockey League must now try and get back into this series on the road, with games 3 and 4 in Kennewick Washington Tuesday and Wednesday. Should a fifth game be required, it'll be played Friday, April 9th at Prospera Place.