The Â鶹¾«Ñ¡ Rockets finally put an end to their 15-game losing streak Saturday (Feb. 22) night, edging the Vancouver Giants 4-3 in overtime at the Langley Events Centre.
After losing 5-1 to the Giants Friday night, defenceman Will Sharpe (7) scored twice—including the overtime winner —to give Â鶹¾«Ñ¡ a much-needed win to start their eight-game road trip.
It was a scoreless first period, with Vancouver controlling much of the play and outshooting Â鶹¾«Ñ¡ 15-7. The Giants broke the deadlock in the second when Tyus Sparks buried his ninth of the season to put the home side up 1-0. But the Rockets responded just over four minutes later as Hiroki Gojsic (18) scored with Â鶹¾«Ñ¡ shorthanded.
The Rockets grabbed their first lead of the game when Dawson Gerwing potted his 12th goal of the season, making it 2-1. Less than a minute later, Sharpe gave Â鶹¾«Ñ¡ a two-goal cushion with his first of the game.
The Giants weren’t going away quietly, though. Just 20 seconds into the third, Tyler Thorpe notched his 24th of the season to make it 3-2. Then, with time winding down, Colton Roberts blasted home his fifth of the year to force overtime. Sharpe gave the Rockets the 4-3 win with his second goal of the night, 29 seconds into overtime.
Â鶹¾«Ñ¡ was outshot 29-22, but goalie Rhett Stoesser came up big with 26 saves. The Rockets went 1-for-4 on the power play, while Vancouver went 0-for-3.
The Rockets’ road trip continues with a pair of games in Prince George on Tuesday and Wednesday before heading to Alberta for a swing through the Central Division. The Rockets will be back home on March 14 when they take on the Kamloops Blazers.