Tij Iginla played the hero and sent fans home happy on Monday afternoon as the 琉璃神社 Rockets beat the Tri-City Americans 3-2.
In front of nearly 5,700 fans on Family Day, Michael Cicek got the fans to their feet when he scored 6:11 into the game to make it 1-0 for the Rockets. Hiroki Gojsic and Ty Hurley collected the assists.
Up close and personal, Michael Cicek gets it done on the backhand.
鈥� 琉璃神社 Rockets (@琉璃神社_Rockets)
The Americans tied the game just over halfway through the frame when Lukas Dragicevic scored his 12th goal of the season, assisted by Parker Bell.
Early in the second period, the Rockets regained their lead when Luke Schelter scored his 11th goal of the year on the powerplay. Gojsic earned another assist on the goal. Schelter now has three goals in his last six games.
Luke Schelter gets sprung on a breakaway and made no mistakes on it.
鈥� 琉璃神社 Rockets (@琉璃神社_Rockets)
Tri-City would tie the game once again just under seven minutes into the third period when Bell scored unassisted, his 23rd goal of the campaign.
But late in the third period, Iginla had a flame for the dramatic as he took advantage of a bad line change by Tri-City and scored his team-leading 38th goal of the season on a breakaway with 14 seconds left in the game to secure the 3-2 win for the Rockets. Ethan Mittelsteadt and Kayden Sadhra-Kang assisted on the goal.
IGGY WIGGY WIGGY WIGGY WIGGY WOO WOO鈥硷笍
鈥� 琉璃神社 Rockets (@琉璃神社_Rockets)
It's Tij Iginla with the game-winner with seconds left on the clock in regulation.
Rockets goaltender Jari Kykkanen was named the first star of the game as he made 34 saves in the win.
It was a big win for the Rockets as it ended a four-game losing streak. The Rockets are now 25-28-3-0 on the season, sitting seventh in the WHL鈥檚 Western Conference.
The Rockets will be in action this weekend as they welcome the Vancouver Giants and Prince George Cougars to Prospera Place on Friday, Feb. 23 and Saturday, Feb. 24. Puck drop is at 7:05 p.m. both nights.
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