Rockets slip past T-Birds in OT, 4-3

The Kelowna Rockets defeated the Seattle Thunderbirds 4-3 in overtime Friday night at the ShoWare Center.

This was the second game of a home-and-home series between the teams. Kelowna won 8-0 on Thursday night in Kelowna.

The T-Birds jumped in front 1-0 at 13:54 of the first period with a power-play goal. Andrew Johnson moved the puck down the left board to Seth Swenson in the left corner. Swenson skated towards the net and then centered the puck to Riley Sheen coming down the slot. Sheen beat Kelowna goalie Jackson Whistle through the legs for his ninth goal of the season.

Both teams had eight shots on goal in the first period.

Seattle (18-28-3-1) took a 2-0 lead 43 seconds into the second period. Jesse Forsberg moved the puck out of the T-Birds zone on the left side. Forsberg go the puck to Sheen in the neutral zone along the boards.

Sheen tapped the puck up to Adam Kambeitz to give him a two-on-one with Connor Sanvido on his right. Kambeitz snapped the puck over Whistle’s glove, off the crossbar and into the net for the goal.

Kelowna (36-10-2-1) got on the board at 1:31 of the second when Ryan Olsen scored. Damon Severson had the only assist on the goal.

The T-Birds went up by two goals at 2:59 of the second. Jerret Smith stopped a rimming puck at the right point. Smith put a wrist shot on goal with Andrew Johnson in front of Whistle. Johnson had his back turned to Smith but was able to redirect the puck past Whistle for the goal.

The Rockets made it a one-goal lead for the T-Birds when Dylan McKinlay scored a shorthanded goal at 7:55 of the second. Colton Sissons had the only assist.

Kelowna led in shots, 18-16, after two periods by outshooting the T-Birds 10-8 in the second period.

The Rockets tied the game 3-3 at 17:33 of the third when Zach Franko scored. Tyson Baillie and Olsen had the assists.

Kelowna outshot the T-Birds 11-10 in the third period.

Baillie won the game for the Rockets at 3:38 of overtime. Myles Bell and Colten Martin had the assists.

Seattle outshot Kelowna 4-2 in overtime but the Rockets finished the game with a 31-30 advantage in shots.

Seattle goalie Brandon Glover had 27 saves on 31 shots and his record is now 17-21-3-1.

Whistle made 27 saves on 30 shots and his record is now 10-2-1-0.

The T-Birds face the Prince George Cougars at 7:05 p.m. Tuesday at 7:05pm at the ShoWare Center.

T-Birds single game tickets are available online at the T-Birds website and at the ShoWare Center box office. The ShoWare Center Box Office is open Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday game days at 10 a.m. and Sunday game days at noon.

Season tickets can be purchased by calling the T-Birds office at 253-239-7825.

SCORING SUMMARY

First period – 1, Seattle, Sheen 9 (Swenson, Johnson), 13:54 (pp). Penalties – Bell, Kel (cross checking), :59. Hickman, Sea (10-minute misconduct), 9:36. Bowey, Kel (boarding), 13:30. Elliot, Sea (checking from behind), 14:29.

Second period – 2, Seattle, Kambeitz 11 (Sheen, Forsberg), :43. 3, Kelowna, Olsen 24 (Severson), 1:31. 4, Seattle, Johnson 8 (Smith), 2:59. 5, Kelowna, McKinlay 18 (Sissons), 6:55 (sh). Penalties – Olsen, Kel (roughing), 4:20. Rigby, Kel (interference), 7:41. Bench, Kel (too many men-served by Franko),   Bench, Kel (too many men-served by Olsen), 11:47. Honey, Sea (roughing), 18:20.

Third period – 6, Kelowna, Franko 20 (Baillie, Olsen), 17:33. Penalties – Martine, Kel (tripping), 19:07.

Overtime – 7, Kelowna, Baillie 16 (Bell, Martin), 3:38. Penalties – No penalties.

Shots on goal – Seattle 8-8-10-4 30, Kelowna 8-10-11-2 31. Goalies – Seattle, Glover 31 shots-27 saves (17-21-3-1); Kelowna, Whistle 30-27 (10-2-1-0). Power plays – Seattle 1-7; Kelowna 0-2. A – 4,342. Referee – Brett Montsion. Linesmen – Kevin Boris, Nathan Van Oosten.