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㽶ƵֱHostile environment㽶Ƶֱ: Kelowna Rockets face playoff elimination in Prince George

The Rockets are down 3-1 in the series and have been outscored 14-5 in those four games
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The Kelowna Rockets face playoff elimination again in Game 5 in their Western Conference Semi-Final with the Prince George Cougars. (Photo: Steve Dunsmoor/Kelowna Rockets)

If you㽶Ƶֱll forgive the cross-sport reference, it was baseball㽶Ƶֱs Yogi Berra who said 㽶ƵֱIt ain㽶Ƶֱt over 㽶Ƶֱtil it㽶Ƶֱs over.㽶Ƶֱ

Looking at the results it certainly looks over for the Kelowna Rockets in their Western Conference Semi-Final against the Prince George Cougars.

They are down 3-1 in the series and have been outscored 14-5 in those four games.

The Rockets were 6-1-0-1 against the Cougars during the regular season. However, six of those games were decided by one goal and three went to overtime or a shootout.

Back to the playoffs. In Tuesday㽶Ƶֱs Game 3 Caden Price nearly potted the go-ahead goal in the final minutes of regulation but hit the post. The Cougars ended it 1:22 into overtime for the 4-3 win.

To paraphrase another baseball great, Frank Robinson, 㽶ƵֱClose only counts in horseshoes.㽶Ƶֱ

Kelowna will need luck and hard work for tonight㽶Ƶֱs (Apr. 19) Game 5 in Prince George to steal a win from the team ranked tops in the country by the Canadian Hockey League.

As Rockets Head Coach Kris Mallette said after Wednesday㽶Ƶֱs 2-1 win, that kept them from elimination, they are going into a 㽶Ƶֱhostile environment.㽶Ƶֱ

㽶ƵֱI don㽶Ƶֱt think we competed nearly like we did at home,㽶Ƶֱ he said. 㽶ƵֱOur big boys are going to have to show up, they㽶Ƶֱre going to have to lead the way.㽶Ƶֱ

Rockets forward Max Graham agrees.

㽶ƵֱWe㽶Ƶֱre back to Prince George, where their crowd is loud and rowdy. We have to try to feed off that energy a little bit and keep playing the same way we have been and hope for more success.㽶Ƶֱ

If Kelowna forces a game six, it will be played on Sunday at Prospera Place with a 2:05 p.m. start.

Tickets would go on sale right after a win in Prince George.

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Gary Barnes

About the Author: Gary Barnes

Journalist and broadcaster for three decades.
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