Foot soldiers play big role in game six win

• Defenceman Tyson Barrie will get all the headlines following a 5-4 win over the Everett Silvertips, but it was the Kelowna Rockets foot soldiers that were the key in forcing a game seven in their Western Conference playoff series. Barrie was instrumental by scoring twice in the game six win, but it was key goals from rookie Codey Ito in the second period, and captain Lucas Bloodoff in the third, in the one goal win. It was Ito's first career playoff goal and Bloodoff's first of the series. I couldn't have come at a better time. Bloodoff's goal was the game winner.
• It was great to see Ito's goal with assists to foot soldiers Tyler Matheson and Max Adolph. Sixteen year-old Jessey Astles also needs to be credited for his hard work over the course of the game. Evan Bloodoff was especially solid in the third period thanks to his great speed.
• Shane McColgan also scored. It was McColgan's first of the playoffs. McColgan also assisted on the game tying goal from Tyson Barrie, despite being hurt in the second period by a hit from Tips forward Clayton Cumiskey.
• For the sixth straight game the Tips opened the scoring on a soft goal by Scott MacDonald. MacDonald's attempted pass from the end boards hits Mark Guggenberger's leg and goes in just 4:33 into the game.
• The Rockets are nursing a 3-2 lead when referee's Derek Zalaski and Devin Klein get busy by missing several infractions before whistling Rockets forward Spencer Main into the box for tripping. The Tips then score a disputed goal when Guggenberger makes a right pad save off of Tips forward Byron Froese, who appears to push Guggenberger's pad across the goal line. After video review, the goal stands. Then to make matters worse, Brandon McMillan is given a roughing minor which the Tips score on to make it 4-3 for the visitors before periods end.
• It marked the second time in this series that the Rockets came back to win after trailing after 40 minutes.
• For the first time all season long, a non sellout crowd watched the Rockets force a game seven. Just 5 thousand and 38 fans took in the game. It's the smallest crowd of the season. Who would think that it would take a playoff game not to sell out?.

AM 1150 audio from game six.