Photo credit: Steve Dunsmore

By Regan Bartel

Brooms for playoff sweep not required

Rockets down, but not out!

Apr 18, 2024 | 7:00 AM

If we’ve learned one thing about the 2023-2024 edition of the Kelowna Rockets, they won’t go quietly into the night.

In essence, they won’t go down without a fight.

Facing playoff elimination last night at Prospera Place, down three games to none in a best-of-seven Western Conference semi-final series, the Rockets dug deep for a 2-1 victory over the Prince George Cougars.

“We didn’t change a whole bunch, but we kept rolling from last night,” Rockets Assistant Coach Josh MacNevin told RocketFAN after losing 4-3 in overtime in game three. “It was good to see us get rewarded for working hard and doing the right things.”

The Rockets out-shot the Cougars 12-5 in a scoreless opening period and then struck for back-to-back goals from forwards Max Graham and Gabriel Szturc in the middle frame to take a 2-0 lead into the third.

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“If you put the pucks in the right areas and get guys driving the net, sometimes you are going to get a bounce,” MacNevin added about Graham’s opening goal that went of the stick of Cougars forward Borya Valis and found a hole past goaltender Ty Young. “I am really proud of the group. We came back here [Prospera Place] with two real good games, against that team, they are the number one team in Canada for a reason, so now we have to bring the noise up to Prince George now.”

Jari Kykkanen was his exceptional self with a 26 save performance, named the first star for his antics in keeping the opposition off the scoresheet for 40 minutes. It marked the first time in the 2024 playoffs that the Cougars trailed heading into the third period.

“Just don’t change it,” MacNevin said quickly when asked about the messaging to the team with a two-goal lead heading into the second intermission. “You have been having success doing the right things, and doing what we were doing. Up and down the lineup we were getting pucks deep and getting in on the forecheck. You don’t change anything, just keep going. If you play defense at the expense of everything, you end up gripping the stick a little tight.”

The pressure was clearly on the shoulders of the home team coming into the game, having lost a heartbreaking overtime loss the night prior. Instead of floundering after the Cougars scored midway through the third period to make it a one goal game, the Rockets were able to regroup, stay composed and hand the road team its first regulation loss since February 2nd.

“You don’t have a choice,” MacNevin commenting when asked how his team handled the pressure packed situation. “You either do or you don’t. There is nowhere to hide. This is what hockey is all about. At some point, you are going to face this, so get used to it. Get used to being uncomfortable and let’s go. Let’s play our game, play as a unit and show them what Rocket hockey is.”

All six games between the two teams at Prospera Place, four during the regular season and two in the playoffs, were decided by a single goal.

“You have to want it more than the other team,” MacNevin said. “There are good hockey players on both sides that are vying for ice time, for position and trying to score goals and trying to prevent them. Generally, it is going to go to the team that wants it more.”

Now the series shifts back to Prince George for game five Friday night, where the Rockets failed to score a goal in games one and two.

“This was a big couple of games for us,” MacNevin added. “We got away from what we need to do in Prince George, but now in our heads we have a little momentum.

“We have some confidence back, a little bit of swagger and let’s go see what we can do up there.”