Rockets go home with a two game lead

Press Release

Mikael Backlund scored twice in the third period and Ian Duval picked up the game-winner and an assist as the visiting Kelowna Rockets skated to a 5-2 win over the Calgary Hitmen in Game 2 of the 2009 WHL Championship series on Saturday, May 2nd.

The victory gives the Rockets a 2-0 lead over the Hitmen in the best-of-seven series, and puts the Rockets in firm control heading back to Kelowna for Games 3 and 4 on Monday and Wednesday.

Evan Bloodoff scored once and added a pair of assists and Colin Long sealed the win with an empty-net goal late in the third period for the Rockets, who held the Hitmen scoreless on five power play chances in the contest and have blanked the Hitmen on all nine man advantage chances in the first two games of the series.

Tomas Karpov – with the game’s opening goal – and Keith Seabrook scored for the Hitmen, who held a 29-27 edge in shots on goal and also held the advantage in territorial play in the contest.

Mark Guggenberger turned in a 27-save effort to record the win for the Rockets, who improve to 14-4 in the post-season. Martin Jones stopped 22 of 26 shots he faced in a losing cause.

(Nathan also is a writer for Maineiacs Post to Post and the Maine Hockey Journal. He can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)