Thursday, Nov. 20, 2008

Rockets end skid against Ams

HERALD NEWS SERVICES

KELOWNA, British Columbia -- There aren't many guys on either team who could remember the last time Kelowna beat Tri-City.

The skid hit 10 games when the Rockets dropped a game to the Americans on Nov. 4 at Toyota Center, but Wednesday night, the Rockets beat Tri-City 3-1 at Prospera Place for their first win over the defending U.S. Division champions since Feb. 25, 2006.

Kelowna's Evan Bloodoff scored the game-winning goal with five minutes left to play, and Cody Almond scored a short-handed, empty-net goal from 185 feet to secure the win.

"To finally beat them, it feels really good," Almond told the Daily Courier. "I thought we had a little bit of a slow start, but we kept at it, kept competing and got better as the game went on. We really finished strong."

The Americans (14-7-0-2, 30 points) failed to overtake the Spokane Chiefs in the U.S. Division standings. The Chiefs, who lead Tri-City by one point, dropped a 2-0 game to Regina.

Brendan Shinnimin scored the lone goal for the Americans at 16:29 of the first period. The Rockets (14-10-0-0) tied things up late in the second as Jamie Benn scored his league-leading 21st goal.

Bloodoff's goal came at 14:52 of the third to give Kelowna a

2-1 lead.

After the Rockets' Tyson Barrie was sent to the penalty box for interference with 1:15 to play, the Americans pulled goaltender Chet Pickard for a 6-on-4 advantage, but turned the puck over and Almond sent it the length of the ice for a goal.

Pickard, who needs one win to become the all-time winningest goalie in franchise history, finished with 30 saves.

Kris Lazaruk, 1-2 against Tri-City this season, finished with 25 saves for the Rockets.