Rockets give up T-Birds' winning goal in the final minute

The Kelowna Rockets fell 5-4 to the Seattle Thunderbirds in game one of the Western Conference Finals on Friday night.

The first period was a long one. Following almost every whistle was a delay to review video or fix the score clock it seemed. The Thunderbirds struck first with a controversial goal at the 10 minute mark, as Ryan Gropp directed a shot that snuck between Herringer and the post.

In the dying seconds of the first period, Kole Lind redirected off a shot from Reid Gardiner at the point to tie it up on the power play.

Gardiner gave the Rockets their first lead of the game early in the second period, just 1:09 into the middle frame. The Rockets controlled most of the second period, outshooting the T-Birds 15-8, but in the final minute of the period Alexander True tied the game up once again.

Once again, the tie didn't last long as the third period started with the T-Birds' third goal, a tip in from Turner Ottenbreit. A few minutes later, Sami Moilanen picked up a rebound and snuck it behind Michael Herringer to give Seattle a 4-2 lead.

Back on the power play, Tomas Soustal netted his third goal of the post season to put the Rockets back within one. With just five minutes left in the game, Reid Gardiner snapped in a shot from the point on the power play and Calvin Thurkauf tipped it in to tie things up 4-4.

The Rockets were extremely effective on the power play Friday, going 3-for-6, and they were also very disciplined, only taking two penalties in the game. Ultimately though, their second penalty, a delay of game with two minutes to play, cost them the game as Ethan Bear put home the game winner for Seattle with 11 seconds left in the game.

Michael Herringer stopped 20 shots in the loss, while Carl Stankowski made 29 saves for the T-Birds.

Video highlights

The second game of this series will be on Saturday, April 22nd in Kent, Washington. The Rockets will return to Prospera Place for games three and four on Tuesday, April 25th and Wednesday, April 26th.