The rematch of the two division leaders turned into a traffic accident for the Everett Silvertips where they were clearly the victims of a much tougher and more agile GMC line.
Tyrell Goulbourne led the GMC line with five points, two goals and three assists, Nick Merkley with two goals and one assist and Rourke Chartier with one goal and two assists.
photo credit- KelownaNow - Silvertips off to a great start with their first shot finding the back of the net.
It started out good for the Tips as they came out flying, scoring from the slot on their first shot on goal. After 3 minutes of Everett storm the Rockets pushed back hard. Tyrell Goulbourne scored on a beauty of a setup from Rouke Chartier. The score was tied 1-1 after one, but the edge clearly belonged to the Rockets.
photo credit - KelownaNow - The GMC line celebrates their fist goal of their combined five on the night.
In the second the GMC line jumped into the drivers street, Goulbourne scored his second short handed, Rourke Chartier scored his 40th of the year and Nick Merkley jammed a Goulbourne pass home.
photo credit - KelownaNow - Rourke Chartier celebrated his 40th in 40 games flat on his back after he jammed it home.
Madison Bowey scored on a blast from the slot and Cole Linaker had the last goal of the second chasing the starter from the net. The Tips managed to get one on the power-play ending the second 6-2.
photo credit - KelownaNow - Starter Kevin Hart was relieved in net after allowing six goals in 20 shots.
Everett seemed to have no fight left in the third even though they managed to get one more goal on the power play. The Rockets scored three more times in the final frame.
Nick Merkley with his second of the game, Leon Driasaitl with the empty netter as Everett pulled their goalie with just under six minutes to go and Josh Morissey got his first goal as a Rocket.
photo credit - KelownaNow - The GMC line at it again with the last goal of the game, this one from Nick Merkley.
The Silver Tips looked rattled in the third, starting a power-play, they had to be coaxed to send the fifth skater over the boards and when he did come over, he thought he was being asked to join the Kelowna player in the box.
The Rockets outshot the Silvertips 33-17, scored one short-handed and allowed the Tips to bag two on the power-play.
Jackson Whistle earned his 28th win in net for the Rockets improving the team record to a WHL-best 36-8-3-0.
photo credit - KelownaNow - Leon Draisaitl at the face-off had one goal and one assist. His goal, an empty netter was scored with confidence as he shot before he gained the centre line. This is the second long bomb into an empty net for Draisaitl, the first in a previous game did not count as time expired before it crossed the line.
photo credit - KelownaNow - Josh Morrissey putting the first one in as a Rocket.
photo credit - KelownaNow - Cole Martin congratulating his D partner on his first goal as a Rocket.
photo credit - KelownaNow - Jackson Whistle came up big when he needed too, stopping a breakaway when the Rockets lost control while on the power-play in the first.
photo credit - KelownaNow - Rourke Chartier becomes the first Rocket to score 40 goals in 40 games and continues to the lead the WHL in goal scoring.
The Rockets are now off on a four game road trip this coming week that will see them play four games in five nights.
Kelowna plays Tuesday in Red Deer and Wednesday in Edmonton before continuing next Friday in Lethbridge and Saturday in Kootenay.
Kelowna's next home game is Feb. 6 when they host the Kamloops Blazers at Prospera Place.
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