Blazers fall 5-1 to the Rockets

Sep 24, 2016 | 11:34 PM

KELOWNA, B.C. — Coming off a 9-2 home ice win, the Blazers did not have the same performance on the road in a 5-1 loss in Kelowna on Saturday night.

The Blazers had a few chances in the early parts of the game, but it was the Rockets that scored first off a funny bounce. Cal Foote’s shot hit the glass and ricocheted in front of the net for a tap in goal for Jordan Borstmayer.

Johnathan Smart made it 2-0 a few minutes later on a five-on-three power play. He fired a shot past Dylan Ferguson on the blocker side. The Rockets took the 2-0 lead through two periods.

Goaltender Carter Phair started the second period for the Blazers. Riley Stadel made it 3-0 6:09 into the period. He converted on an odd man rush.

The Rockets added two goals late in the period, one on the power play and one off the rush for a 5-0 lead through two periods.

Rudolfs Balcers scored the lone Blazers goal on the night. He took a pass in the slot on the power play and ripped home a shot past the blocker of Michael Herringer to make it 5-1.

The Blazers had some pressure towards the end of the game, but the game was out of reach in a 5-1 loss.

The Blazers were 1-for-5 on the power play, while the Rockets finished 2-for-5 on the night. Shots were 33-26 in favour of the Rockets.

The Blazers will look ahead to next weekend as they hit the road to Victoria for a doubleheader on Friday and Saturday night. They will conclude the weekend with a game in Vancouver on Sunday.