The Kelowna Rockets defeated the Seattle Thunderbirds 3-2 in overtime of Game 7 Wednesday night in Kelowna to win the first-round Western Hockey League playoff series four games to three.
Luke Lockhart scored with seven seconds left in the third period to tie the game and send it to overtime. Lockhart got the puck in the low slot and beat Kelowna goalie Jordon Cooke high for the goal. Seth Swenson and Roberts Lipsbergs had the assists on the tying goal. Goalie Brandon Glover was on the bench for an extra attacker when the goal was scored.
Tyson Baillie won it at 5:10 of overtime to give the Rockets the win. It was Baillie’s third goal of the game. Madison Bowey and Justin Kirkland had the assists on the game-winning goal.
This was the fifth game of the series that went to overtime. The T-Birds won the first three games of the series in overtime. Kelowna won Game 6 and Game 7 in overtime.
Kelowna advances to the second round of the playoffs and will face the Kamloops Blazers. The T-Birds season is over.
Kelowna outshot Seattle 12-6 in a scoreless first period.
Seattle struck first at 9:04 of the second period. The puck came to Evan Wardley at the right point. Wardley put a wrist shot on goal with traffic in front of Kelowna goalie Jordon Cooke. Wardley’s shot beat Cooke to give the T-Birds a 1-0 lead.
Kelowna tied the game 13 seconds after Seattle’s goal. Baillie got the goal from the low right circle. Cody Fowlie and Riley Stadel had the assists.
The Rockets outshot the T-Birds 12-9 in the second period and led 24-15 in total shots after two periods.
Ballie scored at 13:09 of the third period just after a Rockets power play ended to put his team in front 2-1. Ryan Olsen and Damon Severson had the assists.
Kelowna outshot Seattle 35-26 in the game.
Glover stopped 32 of 35 shots in the loss and his playoff record was 3-4.
Cooke made 24 of 26 saves in the win and his playoff record is 4-3.
SCORING SUMMARY
First period – No scoring. Penalties – Fowlie, Kel (roughing), 2:32. Swenson, Sea (roughing), 2:32. Severson, Kel (delay of game), 6:26. Sanvido, Sea (slashing), 9:17. Foulk, Sea (holding), 16:35.
Second period – 1, Seattle, Wardley 2, 9:04. 2, Kelowna, Baillie 5 (Fowlie, Stadel), 9:17. Penalties – Baillie, Kel (tripping, kneeing), 19:31.
Third period – 3, Kelowna, Baillie 6 (Olsen, Severson), 13:09. 4, Seattle, Lockhart 4 (Swenson, Lipsbergs), 19:53. Penalties – Wardley, Sea (delay of game), 11:02.
Overtime -5, Kelowna, Baillie 7 (Bowey, Kirkland), 5:10. Penalties – No penalties.
Shots on goal – Seattle 6-9-9-3 26, Kelowna 12-12-10-1 35. Goalies – Seattle, Glover 35 shots-32 saves (3-4); Kelowna, Cooke 26-24 (4-3). Power plays – Seattle 0-3; Kelowna 0-3. A – 5,518. Referees – Devin Klein, Derek Zalaski. Linesmen – Ron Dietterle, Bevan Mills.
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