BLAZERS BEAT ROCKETS 4-2 ON HOME ICE

It was a solid outing from the Blazers as 20-year-old Brendan Ranford led the way with a goal and two assists in a 4-2 win over the B.C. Division leading Kelowna Rockets. Ranford set up the first goal as he stopped up on a rush and found Dylan Willick in front of the net as he tipped home his 12th goal of the season to make it 1-0 Blazers 7:42 into the first period. The Rockets replied on a Blazer turnover. Dylen McKinlay's first attempt was blocked, but he found the puck for a second shot beating goaltender Cole Cheveldave to make it 1-1 midway through the first period. The Blazers put the pressure on and scored with 2:03 to go in the first period on the power play. Colin Smith found Tim Bozon in front of the net and he potted his 32nd goal to make it 2-1 Blazers through the first period.

The Blazers kept it going early in the second period converting on another power play. Colin Smith found a streaking Brendan Ranford who scored his 16th goal of the season to make it 3-1 for the Blazers. The Rockets replied again midway through the period as Henrik Nyberg scored off a rebound on a broken play to cut the Blazers lead to 3-2. The Blazers again made the Rockets pay as Brendan Ranford found Marek Hrbas in front of the net. Hrbas made a great move and put it in for his sixth goal of the season to make it 4-2 through two periods.

In the third period, the Blazers were solid. They outshot the Rockets 13-5 in the final frame eliminating any chance in the period. The Blazers were forced to kill off a penalty in the final minutes, but they did it with ease in a 4-2 win. JC Lipon dropped the gloves with the Rockets captain Colton Sissons in the final minute of play as the fans were entertained to a great game between two good teams.

The Blazers were 2-for-6 on the power play, while the Rockets finished 0-for-3 on the night. Cole Cheveldave earned the win with 26 saves in goal, while Jordon Cooke made 36 saves in the loss for the Rockets.

With the win, the Blazers sit five points behind the Rockets for the B.C. Division lead. These two teams will meet again tomorrow night in Kelowna to close out the home-and-home series.

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