Rockets blow 4-goal 3rd period lead and lose in overtime

For two periods, it was a perfect Family Day for Kelowna Rockets fans at Prospera Place.

The team was playing great and had a 5-1 lead heading into the third period, but that’s when it all came unravelled.

The Calgary Hitmen scored four straight goals in the final frame and added another to win the game in overtime, ending the Rockets homestand on a frustrating note.

After a scoreless first period, Conner McDonald got Kelowna on the board first with a bank shot around the midway mark of the second.

Matthew Wedman extended the lead to 2-0 before Riley Fiddler-Schultz, nephew of Rockets assistant coach Vernon Fiddler, cut the lead in half.

However, Alex Swetlikoff, Ethan Ernst and Dillon Hamaliuk would all find the back of the net in the final four minutes of the period to give the Rockets a seemingly insurmountable lead.

In that aforementioned forgettable third period, Kyle Olson and Carson Focht each scored twice for the visiting Hitmen to tie the game up at five.

Josh Prokop played the role of overtime hero, scoring his 15th of the season to give Calgary the win.

To make matters even worse for Kelowna, captain Nolan Foote’s return to the lineup was very short lived.

He left the game after one period and GM Bruce Hamilton said the 19-year-old was felt sore and out of step.

The Tampa Bay Lightning traded Foote to the New Jersey Devils on Sunday, which made things a little more confusing and Hamilton tried to clear things up post-game on Monday.

“We were following the Tampa Bay protocol, which was when he felt comfortable to be back and have a week of skating and two days of contact and then on restricted play,” Hamilton explained.

“Permission was given by New Jersey's general manager today, because of the trade occurring last night, we didn't know where we were at.”

Hamilton said the Rockets will find out more from the Devils this week.