There’s a saying in sports ‘it’s not a series until the home team loses’. Well that now applies to the Kelowna Rockets first round playoff series as they secured a road victory over the Wenatchee Wild on Saturday night (Mar. 30) to tie the series 1-1.
Just 1:10 into the game, Washington Capitals prospect Andrew Cristall scored his first goal of the playoffs to give the Rockets a 1-0 lead. Defenceman Caden Price assisted on the opening goal.
'Get some lumber on it,' Andrew Cristall, probably #ALLCAPS | #WHLPlayoffs | #FeedingTheFuture pic.twitter.com/LMATXF7RmL
— Kelowna Rockets (@Kelowna_Rockets) March 31, 2024
Later in the frame, Trae Johnson added his first goal of the postseason to double Kelowna’s lead. Price and Kayden Sadhra-Kang collected the assists.
Trae Johnson says thank you very much as the puck finds it way right onto his blade. #WHLPlayoffs | #FeedingTheFuture pic.twitter.com/oxeojZXjYN
— Kelowna Rockets (@Kelowna_Rockets) March 31, 2024
Wenatchee cut the deficit in half in the middle frame when Sam Ward found the back of the net.
But that would be all the offense the Wild could muster as Luke Schelter added an empty net goal for the Rockets with two and a half minutes to go in the game to seal the win and even the series. Gabriel Szturc was the primary assist on the goal while Price completed a three-point night with his third assist of the contest.
Jari Kykkanen made 21 saves in the win.
Both teams will travel back to Kelowna for games three and four, taking place at Prospera Place on Tuesday, Apr. 2 and Wednesday, Apr. 3. Puck drop is at 7:05 p.m. both nights.
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