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Kelowna Rockets win their fifth game in a row as playoffs draw near

Kelowna clinched a playoff spot with a 9-1 over the Blazers on Mar. 8 and beat them again Mar. 9
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Kelowna Rocket Tij Iginla scores one of his two goals in a 4-3 win over the Kamloops Blazers at the Sandman Centre on Mar. 10, 2024. (John Hill/Kamloops Blazers photo)

The Kelowna Rockets show no signs of slowing down after a come-from-behind win over the Kamloops Blazers at the Sandman Centre on Mar. 9.

The Blazers took an early 2-0 lead in the first period with goals from Emmitt Finnie (17) and Andrew Thomson (10).

Kelowna91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s Tij Iginla made it 2-1 on a powerplay goal halfway through the frame with an assist to Kayden Sadhra-Kang.

Kamloops restored its two-goal lead at 6:43 of the second period when Nathan Behm (12) found the net behind Kelowna goaltender Jari Kykkanen.

It was all Rockets after that.

Andrew Cristall (38) scored on the powerplay at 8:12 of the second with assists to Gabriel Szturc and Luke Schelter.

Hiroki Gojsic also added a powerplay goal halfway through the third period, assisted by Marek Rocak and Dylan Wightman. Iginla put the game away just over six minutes later with a short-handed goal, his second of the night at 45th of the season.

The Rockets record is now 31-28-3-1.

Kykkanen stopped 30 of 33 shots to pick up his 26th win of the season. Kelowna went one 3/4 with the man advantage and outshot the Blazers 40-33.

With the win, the Rockets jumped the Victoria Royals for sole possession of fifth place in the Western Conference and are two points back of the Wenatchee Wild for fourth. Kelowna has gone 7-0-1-0 over their eight games.

Their next game is Wed., Mar. 13 when the Prince George Cougars visit Prospera Place.

READ MORE: X marks the playoff spot as Kelowna Rockets punch postseason ticket with 9-1 win

READ MORE: Former B.C. Lions head coach Dave Ritchie dead at age 85



About the Author: Gary Barnes

Journalist and broadcaster for three decades.
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