The Kelowna Rockets were in Kamloops on Friday night looking to inch closer to clinching the BC Division. Meanwhile the Blazers were in need of at least a single point, and a Seattle loss, to keep what little playoff hopes they had alive.
Just over five minutes into the game Rockets captain Cal Foote would take a high sticking minor in the neutral zone. On the ensuing penalty kill Braydyn Chizen would clear the puck high off the glass in the defensive end. Four Blazers players would be caught watching the puck float over their heads to center ice where Marek Skvrne would skate onto it resulting in a breakaway. Dylan Ferguson would get a piece of the Skvrne shot, but not enough, as the puck found the back of the net. Less than a minute after the penalty to Foote expired Connor Zary would take a double minor for slew-footing. That would start the parade to the penalty box for the Blazers who seemed to lose their composure from that point on. Kamloops would manage to kill off all five Kelowna power plays that originated in the first frame. Thanks to some stellar goaltending by Ferguson the Blazers would only trail by one heading to the intermission.
Seven minutes into the second the Blazers would cough up the puck at the offensive blue line resulting in a two on none for the Rockets. Carsen Twarynski would give to Dillon Dube, who would give back to Twarynski who would beat Ferguson for his team leading 43 of the year. Two minutes later Orrin Centazzo would be hooked on a breakaway, and for the second straight game the fans in Kamloops would witness a penalty shot. Centazzo would take his time, skating slowly towards Brodan Salmond. Eventually when he got there Centazzo would beat Salmond to put Kamloops on the board. Dube would finally notch a power play marker for the Rockets on their seventh man advantage of the night. Kyle Topping would find an open Dube in the slot who would one time the pass into the net. Kelowna led 3 – 1 through 40 minutes. 
The third period saw the Blazers come out with their minds set on hitting as many Rockets as they could. Unfortunately for Kamloops fans very few Blazers players seemed to have any inclination of actually scoring to get back into the game. Kole Lind would score a goal that would make Cristiano Ronaldo proud with two minutes and thirty seconds left. Kelowna would take two delay of game penalties eight seconds apart late. With Ferguson on the bench and a six-on-three, Nolan Kneen would make the score look a little more respectable. Kelowna would win the game 4 – 2 and officially eliminate the Blazers from playoff contention. Regardless of the outcome of this game the Blazers would have been eliminated as a result of the Thunderbirds win over the Chiefs. Salmond would finish the night with 36 saves in the win, Ferguson with 34 saves in the loss.
These two teams face off again Saturday night in Kelowna in what may be a very fiery affair. Kamloops with nothing much left to play for other than spoiling Kelowna’s chance at the division title.
Three Stars:
- Dillon Dube 1G 1A +1 GWG
- Dylan Ferguson 34 SAV
- Orrin Centazzo 1G
