Rockets Win Doubleheader Opener 4-1

By 250 News

A hard week of practice proved fruitless on Friday night for the Prince George Cougars, who dropped a 4-1 decision to the Kelowna Rockets to open a weekend doubleheader at CN Centre.The Cougars were meeting the Rockets for the fifth time this season and the first time with Dallas Jackson in the Rockets line-up.  The former Cougars defencemen, who was leading the Cougars in scoring when he was traded to Kelowna on January 10, was back at CN Centre, wearing his familiar #29.  The Rockets, with three wins in the first four meetings with Prince George, opened the scoring at 8:24 of the first period on a power play goal from Mitchell Callahan.  Callahan stood in front of the Cougars net when Antoine Corbin fired a shot that was kicked out by Cougars goalie Kyle Jahraus, but the rebound was swept home by Callahan for his 14th goal of the season.  The Cougars didn't have much going for them in the opening period, but Taylor Makin was able to give the hosts a boost going into the dressing room.  Makin took a shot that deflected off a defenceman's stick, off the end glass, then back out to Makin, who fired home his 8th goal of the year past Rockets starter Adam Brown.  Brock Hirsche and Bruin McDonald earned assists on the Makin goal to tie the game at one at 19:41.  The Rockets out-shot the Cougars 10-7.

But the Cougars couldn't build of that last minute goal and surrendered the lead back to Kelowna, when Tyson Barrie jumped up into the rush for the Rockets and pounced on a loose puck, beating Jahraus for his 9th goal of the season at 15:05.  The Rockets 2-1 lead held up after 40 minutes, out-shooting the Cougars in the middle frame 12-9.

The Cougars had a push going mid-way through the third period that led to them having a 5-on-3 power play for 91 seconds to try and tie the game.  But Brown shut the door to keep the Cougars down 2-1.  The Rockets would get the insurance goal they were looking for, when Brandon McMillan knocked in a rebound at the edge of the crease for his 11th goal of the season at 14:18.  McMillan would add an empty netter for the Rockets at 19:05 for a 4-1 victory over the Cougars, ending the Rockets seven game losing skid.  The Cougars, however, have now lost eight in a row and fall to 9-36-1-1.  The Cougars power play let them down again, going 0-for-7 for the third straight game and have not scored a power play goal in their last 28 chances.  The Rockets were 1-for-3.  Shots were even in the third period at 12 a side for a game total of 34-28 in Kelowna's favour.

The Cougars and Rockets square off again Saturday night, starting at 7:00 at CN Centre.  Tickets are available by calling Ticketmaster at 250-564-5585.

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