Rockets Take Game One 4-1

By 250 News

The Prince George Cougars may have lost much more than the opening game of their Kal Tire Western Conference Quarter Final series with the Kelowna Rockets.  Captain Brett Connolly left the game in the first period and did not return to action in a 4-1 loss to the Rockets, who scored three unanswered goals in the third frame to claim the first game of the best of 7 series.

The Cougars and Rockets were meeting for the first time since the Cougars shut-out the Rockets 3-0 on February 5 at CN Centre.  The Cougars went 3-5-1-0 against the Rockets in the season series and the teams were colliding in the playoffs for the first time since 2000.  The Rockets used the home energy early in the game, collecting the first seven shots on goal.  The Cougars narrowed the gap as the period wore on but found themselves two men short late in the first frame.  Shortly after killing the first penalty, the Rockets Mitchell Callahan tipped home a pass from Tyson Barrie past Ty Rimmer on the blocker side to give the Rockets a 1-0 lead with 1:08 to play in the first period.  The shots were tied at nine a side, with Nick Buonassisi and Spencer Asuchak both getting breakaway chances, but were turned away by Rockets goalie Adam Brown.

In the second period, Rimmer came up with some big saves to keep the Cougars to within a goal.  Rimmer's saves allowed the Cougars to tie the game late in the second period when Charles Inglis shot a loose puck just over the goal line to knot the score at one at 18:01.  Taylor Stefishen and Greg Fraser picked up the assists.  The Cougars were out-shot 14-9 but were back on even terms heading to the third.

Another Rockets power play led to their go-ahead goal when the Cougars coughed the puck up in front of the net and Shane McColgan, who picked off the puck, centred for Geordie Wudrick who ripped home the one-time shot to give the Rockets a 2-1 lead at 7:24.  The Rockets got insurance off a slapper from Damon Severson that eluded Rimmer high to give the Rockets a 3-1 lead with just over six minutes to play.  Callahan finished the scoring with an empty net goal for a 4-1 Rockets win and a 1-0 series lead on the Cougars.  The shots were even at seven in the third and Kelowna had a 30-25 edge in the game.  Special teams were big, with the Rockets going 2-for-7 on the power play and the Cougars were 0-for-2.  Three of the Cougars penalties were for delay of game by shooting the puck over the glass in the defensive zone.

Head Coach Dean Clark said Connolly left the game with an upper body injury.  Game 2 of the series goes Saturday from Prospera Place in Kelowna.  The Cougars host games 3 and 4 next Tuesday and Wednesday at CN Centre, starting at 7:00pm both nights.  Tickets are available by calling Ticketmaster at 250-564-5585.

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