The Kelowna Rockets were one of the Western Hockey League含羞草研究社檚 hottest teams heading into the 2016-17 postseason.
The Kamloops Blazers felt that heat on Friday night at Prospera Place.
Carsen Twarynski scored twice and added an assist and Michael Herringer made 15 saves as the Rockets shutout the Blazers of the best-of-seven playoff series between the B.C. Division rivals.
The Rockets dominated from start to finish in front of a crowd of 5,503, outshooting Kamloops 48-15 and solving Blazers含羞草研究社� goalie Connor Ingram with a pair of goals 28 seconds apart late in the opening period.
Twarynski scored at 17:20, followed by Tomas Soustal at 17:48 and the Rockets never looked back.
含羞草研究社淚 don含羞草研究社檛 think we could have asked that first (game) to go any better,含羞草研究社� said Twarynski, who the Rockets acquired from the Calgary Hitmen prior to the WHL trade deadline in January. 含羞草研究社淲e were all over them, stuck to our game plan and obviously it worked out.
含羞草研究社淏ut Kamloops isn含羞草研究社檛 a team that含羞草研究社檚 going to fold right away,含羞草研究社� he added. 含羞草研究社淲e含羞草研究社檙e happy about that one but we含羞草研究社檝e gotta focus on the next game and do the same thing.含羞草研究社�
Soustal, who was playing his first game since March 1 due to an upper body injury, made a noticeable return to the lineup with a goal and an assist.
Reid Gardiner also scored for the Rockets, who had won 12 of their last 14 regular season games before Friday night含羞草研究社檚 playoff opener.
Kelowna head coach Jason Smith said the Rockets were able to carry over many of the good habits they developed late in the season.
含羞草研究社淭he way we ended the year, we played a lot of complete games and it gave us a chance to get the results we did,含羞草研究社� said Smith. 含羞草研究社淟eading up to the game, we talked about playing with composure and discipline and work ethic. Add structure to that and you give yourself an opportunity to win games.含羞草研究社�
Game 2 goes Saturday night, 7:05 p.m. at Prospera Place. Games 3 and 4 are set for next Tuesday and Wednesday nights in Kamloops.
