For much of the 2016-17 Western Hockey League season, Connor Ingram had the Kelowna Rockets香蕉视频直播� number.

With three wins and a scant three goals allowed in his first three starts against Kelowna, the Kamloops Blazers香蕉视频直播� netminder looked next to unbeatable.

But in the final meeting between the clubs on Feb. 24 in Kamloops, the Rockets broke the dyke against Ingram, chasing the Blazers香蕉视频直播� stopper with six goals on 26 shots, en route to a .

After struggling to find an answer for Ingram early in the season, leading scorer Kole Lind said the Rockets香蕉视频直播� last encounter with the Blazer goalie was a positive sign.

香蕉视频直播淗e was (in our heads) a little bit, I think,香蕉视频直播� Lind said of Ingram香蕉视频直播檚 early dominance of Kelowna.

香蕉视频直播淚 think there was a little bit of doubt in our minds against him, but I think we finally figured him out, so it should be a fun series.

香蕉视频直播淲e just gotta keep going at him,香蕉视频直播� added Lind, who led the Rockets with 87 points this season. 香蕉视频直播淗e香蕉视频直播檚 going to make brilliant saves, we know that but I think we just gotta keep firing pucks, second and third chances, and battling for pucks in front will be a huge part of it.香蕉视频直播�

Ingram香蕉视频直播檚 play will be centre stage as the Rockets battle the Blazers for the second straight year in the opening round of the WHL playoffs.

Game 1 goes Friday, 7:05 p.m., at Prospera Place.

The Rockets gave more than a few opposing goalies fits down the stretch, scoring 76 goals and closing out the season with 12 wins in 14 games.

Kelowna GM Bruce Hamilton said the club香蕉视频直播檚 offense香蕉视频直播攚hich struggled at times earlier in the season香蕉视频直播攈as awakened at the right time of the year. Now it香蕉视频直播檚 a matter of maintaining that attack against Ingram and the Blazers.

香蕉视频直播淕etting pucks by (Ingram) is going to be one of the differences in the series,香蕉视频直播� said Hamilton. 香蕉视频直播淲e made some goalies look pretty good in this building this year early on, where we just didn香蕉视频直播檛 finish. But it香蕉视频直播檚 been a lot better the last part of the season.

香蕉视频直播淣ow I think our team understands you gotta go to some areas where you香蕉视频直播檙e going to get whacked and that香蕉视频直播檚 just the way it is if you want to have success.香蕉视频直播�

Game 2 in the best-of-seven series goes Saturday, 7:05 p.m., at Prospera Place, with Games 3 and 4 in Kamloops next Tuesday and Wednesday nights.

Blazer faces ex-mates香蕉视频直播�

Defenceman Joe Gatenby will have a different perspective than a year ago when he was wearing Rockets香蕉视频直播� colours for their first round series against the Blazers.

The 19-year-old from Kelowna was dealt to Kamloops by the Rockets in the off-season and has been one of the Blazers more dependable blueliners in 2016-17.

Gatenby is looking forward to the challenge of facing his former team but assures he won香蕉视频直播檛 be feeling the least bit sentimental towards the Rockets once the puck drops.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 exciting, it香蕉视频直播檚 a great opportunity for our team and that香蕉视频直播檚 all I really look at,香蕉视频直播� said Gatenby, who had seven goals in 38 points in 71 games this season. 香蕉视频直播淩eally now I香蕉视频直播檓 just focused on the series, what we need to do.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淚 don香蕉视频直播檛 get caught up too much in the storylines and the history. Once the game starts, that香蕉视频直播檚 all I香蕉视频直播檓 thinking about, trying to do what I can to help the Blazers win.香蕉视频直播�

As for what key factor will determine a winner in the series, Gatenby believes it will simply come down to the will to win.

香蕉视频直播淚n the end, it香蕉视频直播檚 two really good teams going head to head that want the same thing,香蕉视频直播� said Gatenby. 香蕉视频直播淚 think it香蕉视频直播檚 just going to be who wants it more, that香蕉视频直播檚 all it will really come down to.香蕉视频直播�