T-Birds Beat Rockets 3-2

The visiting team continues to hold the upper hand.

The Seattle Thunderbirds bounced back after two embarrassing defeats on home ice to beat the Kelowna Rockets 3-2 Friday night at Prospera Place. The win gives the T-Birds a 3-2 lead in the best of seven Western Conference semi-final series. They can eliminate the defending Memorial Cup champions back in Seattle Sunday night.

For the second time in the series, the T-Birds scored the winning goal in the final seconds of regulation time. Defenseman Scott Jackson scored his first goal of the post season with just 11 seconds left to give the T-Birds the margin of victory.

Chris Ray and Tyler Spurgeon scored for the Rockets, who held a 2-1 lead after one period of play. Tyler Metcalf evened the score early in the second period.

The Rockets were held off the scoresheet on the power play, going 0-6 with the man advantage. Seattle was 0-2 on the power play.

The T-Birds outshot the Rockets 27-25.

The Rockets need to win Sunday in Seattle to force a seventh and deciding game back at Prospera Place Tuesday night.