Weak power play a factor in Rockets' OT loss

Two evenly matched teams, with similar styles of play, showed up to Prospera Place on Wednesday night, and it was the Moose Jaw Warriors who came out on top, edging the Kelowna Rockets 3-2 in overtime.

While there were some shining moments for the Rockets on Wednesday night, they struggled to get things going and gel as a team.

The Warriors put plenty of pressure on early and showed the Rockets that they would not be easy to beat. In the second period, the Warriors efforts were rewarded as both Matt Sozanski and Brett Howden scored to give the team a two goal lead.

In the second period, Nick Merkley put the Rockets within one with a beautiful wraparound goal, after a sweet setup from Lucas Johansen.

Calvin Thurkauf, who had a stellar game and created many of the Rockets' chances, sent the game to overtime, sniping at 4:16 of the third.

That shot........ 😱 #SwissBeast #BigThurk pic.twitter.com/abRNqJPL4w

— Kelowna Rockets (@Kelowna_Rockets) January 19, 2017

While the Warriors had one goal in four power play attempts, the Rockets were 0-7 on the PP, which included both a four minute penalty and a 5-on-3.

In the 3-on-3 overtime period, the Warriors were victorious as Brayden Burke put one past Michael Herringer with just under two minutes to play. The Rockets did not record a single shot in the overtime period.

Herringer turned aside 25 Warriors' shots, although the netminder seemed a bit shaky at times throughout the night. At the other end, Brody Willms stopped 30 Rockets' shots.

The Rockets head out to Vancouver to face the Giants on Friday before returning to Prospera Place on Saturday, January 21st to battle the Portland Winterhawks.

Tickets are available for Rockets home games through www.selectyourtickets.com, at the Prospera Place box office or by phone at 250-762-5050.