Rockets won’t go down; series returns to T-Birds’ home ice | WHL playoffs

The Seattle Thunderbirds scored two late goals Saturday night at Prospera Place in British Columbia, but it wasn’t enough as the Kelowna Rockets took Game 5 of their first-round WHL playoff series, 4-3.

The T-Birds lead the best-of-seven series, 3-2, with Game 6 at 7:05 p.m. Tuesday at the ShoWare Center.

With under a minute to play, the T-Birds scored unassisted goals nine seconds apart to cut the Rockets lead to two goals.

First, playing four-on-four, Seth Swenson intercepted a Rocket crossing pass and came down on Kelowna goalie Jordon Cooke all alone. Swenson beat Cooke through the legs at 19:24 of the period for the second T-Birds goal.

Off the ensuing the faceoff, with goalie Brandon Glover on the bench for an extra attacker, the T-Birds got the puck deep into the Rockets zone. Lipsbergs got to the puck in the left circle and he snapped it past Cooke high for his third goal of the playoffs. The goal came at 19:34 of the third period.

The T-Birds kept Glover on the bench with 26 seconds left in the game and were able to get the puck back into the Rockets zone. They were almost able to score the tying goal but Cooke made several saves to preserve the win for the Rockets.

Kelowna took a 1-0 lead on a power-play goal from Tyson Baillie at 10:50 of the first period. Damon Severson and Myles Bell were credited with the assists.

Colton Heffley extended the Rockets lead to 2-0 41 seconds after their first goal. Tyrell Goulbourne and Austin Glover had the assists.

The Rockets outshot the T-Birds 10-4 in the first period.

Kelowna made it a 3-0 lead at 12:20 of the second when Dylan McKinlay scored. Cole Linaker had the only assist on the goal.

Seattle got on the board at 13:26 on a goal from Alexander Delnov. Riley Sheen had the puck in the neutral zone along the left boards. Sheen centered the puck to Delnov as he entered the Kelowna zone to spring him on a breakaway. Delnov stickhandled towards Cooke. He beat Cooke with a snap shot on the glove side for his second goal of the playoffs.

Kelowna outshot Seattle 11-6 in the second period and led 21-10 in total shots after two periods.

Bell put the Rockets in front 4-1 at 13:49 of third period with his third goal of the playoffs. Ryan Olsen and Cole Martin had the assists.

Kelowna outshot Seattle 7-6 in the third period and 27-17 in the game.

Glover stopped 23 of 27 shots and his record is now 3-2 in the playoffs.

Cooke made 14 saves on 17 shots and his record is now 2-3 in the playoffs.

Playoff tickets, promotions

The T-Birds will continue the popular 2-for-Tuesday promotion for Game 6. This means all tickets will be two-for-one and all beer, soda, popcorn and hot dogs will be $2. The 2-for-Tuesday group ticket special will also apply for Game 6. Fans that buy 20 tickets will get 20 tickets free for a total of 40 tickets.

Purchase tickets for Game 6 here.

SCORING SUMMARY

First period – 1, Kelowna, Baillie 4 (Severson, Bell), 10:50 (pp). 2, Kelowna, Heffley 1 (Goulbourne, Glover), 11:31. Penalties – Fowlie, Kel (tripping), 3:41. Elliot, Sea (interference), 7:44. Hickman, Sea (boarding), 10:33.

Second period – 3, Kelowna, McKinlay 2 (Linaker), 12:20. 4, Seattle, Delnov 2 (Sheen), 13:26. Penalties – Fowlie, Kel (interference), 2:32. Elliot, Sea (kneeing), 5:24. Swenson, Sea (hooking), 6:35. Glover, Sea (roughing), 17:15. .

Third period – 5, Kelowna, Bell 3 (Olsen, Martin), 13:49. 6, Seattle, Swenson 1, 19:23. 7, Seattle, Lipsbergs 3, 19:34. Penalties – Lockhart, Sea (unsportsmanlike conduct), 5:48. Bowey, Kel (high-sticking), 5:48. Martin, Kel (tripping), 15:21. Goulbourne, Kel (unsportsmanlike conduct), 19:04. Elliot, Sea (unsportsmanlike conduct), 19:04.

Shots on goal – Seattle 4-6-7 17, Kelowna 10-11-6 27. Goalies – Seattle, Glover 27 shots-23 saves (3-2); Kelowna, Cooke 17-14 (2-3). Power plays – Seattle 0-4; Kelowna 1-4. A – 4,763. Referees – Steve Papp, Sean Raphael. Linesmen – Mike Langin, Nathan Van Oosten.