Silvertips win! Rockets drop third straight

When the Kelowna Rockets hit the road last week for a pair of games in Prince George and one in Everett, the three-game stint provided a perfect opportunity for the team to answer a few lingering questions.

However, the Rockets have limped back to Kelowna with perhaps even more questions to answer after dropping all three contests.

The Silvertips took a giant step toward clinching the Western Conference title, doubling the Rockets 4-2 in front of 5,778 fans at the Angels of the Wind Arena.

Carsen Twarynski

Kelowna took a 1-0 lead at 12:51 of the opening period when Carsen Twarynski connected for his 39th of the season. Kole Lind tallied his 36th at 5:17 of the second to stake Kelowna a 2-0 advantage, but that was all the Rockets would muster offensively.

Matt Fonteyne scored late in the second stanza, his 32nd of the season at 18:41 to breath some life into the ‘Tips.

Everett owned the third period, scoring three times to put away the visitors.

Patrick Bajkov

Patrick Bajkov, the ‘Tips all-time points leader, scored his 29th of the season at 11:39 to square the match. The tally was also Bajkov’s 108th career goal, establishing a ‘Tips all-time goal scoring record.

Connor Dewar notched the game-winner at 16:51, giving the ‘Tips its first lead of the game with his 33rd of the season. With less than a minute to play, the Rockets were shorthanded due to a too many men on the ice penalty and Dewar scored on the power play to nail down the verdict.

Brodan Salmond

Of note for Kelowna was the steady, if not sparkling play of goaltender Brodan Salmond, who made 16 saves in the first frame and stopped 36 of 40 on the night. Carter Hart made 22 saves for the win.

Everett improves to 42-18-2-3 for 89 points and a seven-point bulge over the Rockets for first place in the Western Conference.

For the first time in franchise history, Everett has swept a season series from Kelowna, winning all four contests. All-time, Everett is 27-22-12 versus the Rockets but perhaps more importantly is the recent run of success as the ‘Tips are 10-0-2-1 in its last 13 meetings against Kelowna. The Rockets went 0-12 on the season with the man advantage in four games against Everett.

Rockets Fuel…Everett outshot Kelowna, 40-24…The Rockets have been singed in recent games, surrendering 29 goals in its last six games…The Silvertips were 1-for-4 on the power play while Kelowna went 0-for-1…Despite the loss, the Rockets have been efficient front runners this season. When scoring first, Kelowna is 28-5-2-2…At 38-21-4-2, the Rockets continue to lead the B.C. Division, holding a six-point lead on the Victoria Royals…Of late, the Rockets have made a habit of giving up the lead, regardless who its opponent is. The Cougars, long eliminated from the playoff race, came back in both games this week to knock off the front-running Rockets. Same script in Everett as Kelowna squandered a two-goal lead…Kelowna will play seven more games in March to close out the regular season, including five at home where the team has compiled a 23-6-0-2 record so far…The Spokane Chiefs come calling tonight to Prospera Place on a four-game winning streak. The Chiefs are 8-2 in its last10 games, while Kelowna is 5-4-0-1…The U.S Division has been tough on the Rockets this season, evidenced by it 7-9-1-2 record through 18 games…Heading into March, the Rockets are destined to make it six seasons in a row with at least 40 regular season wins. Since the 2012-13 campaign, when Kelowna won 52 times, the organization has collected, in order, 57, 53, 48 and 45 games.