KELOWNA, B.C. – The Everett Silvertips just can’t seem to buy a victory right now.
Shea Weber had a goal and two assists, leading the Kelowna Rockets to a 4-1 victory over the Silvertips on Wednesday night in a Western Hockey League game.
The loss continued Everett’s recent slump. The Silvertips (21-19-6-2) have lost three straight and seven of their past eight.
It was going to be tough breaking out of the slump against Kelowna. Not only do the Rockets (29-10-9-2) have the most points in the league, they’ve won four straight and are 16-0-1 in their last 17 home games. In contrast, the Silvertips have a six-game road losing streak and are winless on the road in their last 10.
Justin Keller and Troy Bodie also scored for Kelowna, Chris Ray added an empty-net goal and Derek Yeomans made 25 saves in goal.
Karel Hromas scored for Everett and Michael Wall made 23 saves.
Kelowna took the lead at 6 minutes, 28 seconds of the first period. With the Rockets on a three-on-two break, Troy Bodie carried the puck into the zone and found Keller trailing on the play. Keller’s shot beat Wall high to his glove side, giving Kelowna a 1-0 lead. The goal was Keller’s 19th of the season.
Everett tied the score with a power-play goal at 7:12 of the second period. Cody Thoring’s one-timer from the point was saved by Yeomans, but Hromas put in the rebound, making it 1-1 with his 13th goal of the season.
However, Kelowna restored its lead a mere 43 seconds later when Weber’s wrist shot from the point through traffic found the net, making the score 2-1. The goal was Weber’s 11th of the season.
The Rockets took control with a power-play goal at 14:42. This time Weber’s wrist shot from the point deflected off Bodie in front and past Wall, increasing Kelowna’s lead to 3-1. The goal was Bodie’s 15th of the season.
Ray polished off the scoring with 1:01 remaining, scoring shorthanded into an empty net.
Everett played without captain Mitch Love. Love was scratched because of a shoulder injury. Forwards Tyler Dietrich (concussion), Jeremy Creurer (concussion) and Brennan Zasitko (shoulder) also remained sidelined because of injury.
Rockets 4, Silvertips 1
Everett010-1
Kelowna121-4
First Period-1, Kelowna, Keller 19 (Bodie, Spurgeon), 6:28.
Second Period-2, Everett, Hromas 13 (Baranka, Thoring), 7:12 (pp). 3, Kelowna, Weber 11 (Ray), 7:55. 4, Kelowna, Bodie 15 (Weber, Spurgeon), 14:42 (pp).
Third Period-5, Kelowna, Ray 12 (Weber), 18:59 (sh-en).
Shots on goal-Everett 5-13-8-26. Kelowna 9-11-7-27. Power-play opportunities-Everett 1 of 6. Kelowna 1 of 1.
Goalies-Everett, Wall 16-16-5 (26 shots, 23 saves). Kelowna, Yeomans 19-10-7 (26 shots, 25 saves).
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