229889
198930
WHL  

Kelowna Rockets head home following 5-2 win in Everett

Rockets salvage 1 from trip

The Kelowna Rockets salvaged one game from their three-game sojourn south of the border.

Jari Kykkanen turned away 44 shots leading the Rockets to a 5-2 victory over the Everett Silvertips Sunday afternoon.

Kykkanen was busy over the final 40 minutes, facing 35 shots, including 23 in the second period alone, for a team playing its third game in just 45 hours.

Gabriel Szturc and Colton Dach each scored twice to pace the Rockets offensively while former Silvertip Max Graham added the other.

Graham opened the scoring midway through the first, sweeping home Elias Carmichael's backdoor feed from the right circle on the power play.

Szturc banged home his own rebound near the end of the period to give the Rockets a 2-0 cushion after 20 minutes.

Up 2-1 midway through the second, Dach scored his first of the night off the rush. Andrew Cristall gained the Everett zone then waited for Dach to get open.

Dach drifted toward the slot and beat Braden Holt to restore the two-goal lead.

The Silvertips cut the lead to one again on a power play before Szturc replied on a Kelowna power play near the end of the period.

Carmichael again started the play, laying a perfect pass to Szturc in the right circle for a one-timer.

Dach closed out the scoring into an empty net.

The Rockets finished two for four with the man advantage while the Silvertips scored both of their goals on seven power play opportunities.

The Rockets return home to host Victoria in their final home date before the Christmas break Friday.

Friday's game is also the Rockets annual teddy bear toss game.



More WHL articles