The Kelowna Rockets needed the win against Rimouski Oceanic to take the pressure off themselves for their Tuesday round robin game. They did not want to go into their Tuesday game down two games and facing possible elimination at the hands of the Oshawa Generals.
Nick Merkley was named the game's first star with two goals and one assist. (photo credit - Aaron Bell/CHL Images)
The dominating 7-3 win over Rimouski improves the Rockets' record to one win and one loss, good enough to play in a tie breaker game on Thursday no matter the outcome of their third and final round robin game.
Nick Merkley led the way with two goals and one assist. He scored the first goal of the game 52 seconds in and the fifth goal midway through the second.
Leon Draisaitl and Gage Quinney each had a pair as well, and Madison Bowey had the single.
Madison Bowey scored one goal and had two assists in the win. Jackson Whistle stopped 28 of 31 shots. (photo credit - Aaron Bell/CHL Images)
Kelowna amassed a three-goal lead before Rimouski got their first goal. Rimouski did manage to claw their way back in the first with a pair on Jackson Whistle, ending the first period 3-2 in favour of the Rockets.
In the second it was all Rockets, as three unanswered goals made it 6-2 with twenty minutes to go.
The teams exchanged goals in the third period to make the final 7-3 for the Rockets. Draisaitl scored the last goal of the game shorthanded.
Kelowna outshot Rimouski 36-31, scored once on five power-play opportunities, allowed two power-play goals on six chances, and scored one shorthanded goal.
Leon Draisaitl was the game's third star with two goals and one assist. (photo credit - Aaron Bell/CHL Images)
The Rockets will play the Ontario Hockey League champion Generals, who are 2-and-0 in the tournament, in Kelowna's final game of the round robin tournament.
Game time is 4:30 PST on Tuesday.
