Blazers soar to comeback win over Rockets with three goals in 33 seconds

“You know we weren’t scoring, their goalie was playing well but we knew if we stuck with it, we were going to get a couple, and fortunately we won that game.”

Fortunate they were, as the Rockets looked to be cruising to a win against their B.C. Division rival, largely due to the efforts of Jake Pilon, who finished with 37 saves on 41 shots.

The Rockets had a 2-0 lead approaching the final five minutes of the third period before Finnie went coast to coast to cut the lead in half with his 25th goal of the season.

Tommy Lafrieniere tied things up at 2-2 just nine seconds later with his 18th of the season. He beat Pilon high on his glove side and sent what had been a mostly tepid crowd at Sandman Centre into a frenzy.

Koci then ensured it was pandemonium 24 seconds later when he made it 3-2 in favour of the home team with his third of the season.

“It was a really good breakout. [Finnie] passed it to me and I had a little bit of luck but it was in,” Koci said post-game.

Emmitt Finnie called game. Blazers beat Kelowna 4-3 in OT.#Kamloops pic.twitter.com/5cyvr7GWVh

— Victor Kaisar (@supermario_47) January 25, 2025

Hayden Paupanekis, who opened the scoring in the first period, dampened the atmosphere a bit with a game-tying goal at 18:13 of the final period, his second of the game. Hiroki Gojsic had the other goal for the Rockets in the second.

Finnie then called game at 3:28 of overtime to give the Blazers their second come-from-behind overtime win at Sandman Centre in three weeks.

“I was a little tired at the end there but [Harrison Brunicke] gave me a long drop pass and you know I had some room, and I had a good shot so yeah it was good,” Finnie said.

Brunicke, who was playing for the first time since Remembrance Day, was credited with the only assist on the overtime winner in just his 16th game of the season. The Pittsburgh Penguins prospect missed the last 22 games with a wrist injury that derailed his chances of playing for Canada at the World Juniors.

Dylan Ernst was credited with the win for the Blazers as he turned aside 31 of 34 shots.

The win moves the 16-24-3-0 Blazers to within two points of the Rockets and three back of Wenatchee who currently occupy the final Western Conference playoff spot.

The Blazers head north to Prince George to face the Cougars in a Saturday evening showdown at the CN Centre. Puck drop is at 6:00 p.m.

Their next home game is scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 29 against the Tri-City Americans.

by Victor Kaisar

Blazers soar to comeback win over Rockets with three goals in 33 seconds

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