The Kelowna Rockets snapped their four-game losing streak with a 4-3 victory over the Portland Winterhawks.
Entering the game, the Winterhawks were the CHL's sixth-ranked team on this week's Week 17 edition of its CHL Top-10 Rankings. Sitting atop the Western Conference and US Division standings, Portland had won eight of their last ten games.
After falling behind to Portland, former Winterhawk Luke Schelter found the back of the net to tie the game. Defenceman Ethan Mittelsteadt earned second-star honors after recording a goal and an assist, helping set up Hirkoi Gojsic's eventual game-winner in the second frame.
GAME SUMMARY
Hudson Darby (5) waiting along the blueline all alone was able to coast in uncontested, putting the Winterhawks on the board first four minutes into the game. Luke Schelter (8) standing on the doorstep put away the game-tying goal while on the power play. Ethan Mittelsteadt (3) was able to poke the puck away from a Winterhawk defender, taking off on a two-on-one with Andrew Cristall he elected to shoot, giving Kelowna the lead at 11:04. Carter Sotheran's shot went off of the mask of Rockets goaltender Jari Kykkanen, Josh Zakreski (16) then collected the puck in the left faceoff circle and spun to fire a shot into the Kelowna net with 56 seconds left on the clock.
PHOTO CREDIT PAT KEMPANY / PORTLAND WINTERHAWKS
Ethan Neutens shot while in on a two-on-one and the rebound popped out to Kayden Longley (4) who restored the Rockets lead 4:01 into the second period. Hiroki Gojsic (10) wired a shot from the left faceoff dot that put the Rockets up by two 8:54 into the frame. Marek Alscher (3) went coast to coast to pull Portland back within one with 3:37 to go in the second period but it's as close as the Winterhawks would get.
ADDITIONAL STATS
- The Rockets record is now 22-22-3-0
- Jari Kykkanen turned away 31 of the 34 shots fired on him
- Portland was 0/2 on the power play while Kelowna was 1/3
- The Winterhawks outshot the Rockets 34-23, recording 18 shots alone in the opening frame
- This was the third of four meetings between the two, with the Winterhawks leading the season series 2-1
UP NEXT
Kelowna will face the Winterhawks on Friday again at 7:00 pm before wrapping up their trip on Sunday in Spokane.
Kelowna's next home game is set for Wednesday, February 7 when the Victoria Royals will visit Prospera Place for the final time this season.