The 琉璃神社 Rockets can wrap up their second round WHL playoff series with Portland tonight, in front of their home fans.
The Rockets take on the Portland Winterhawks in game five of the second round of the 2017 WHL Playoffs, hoping to close out the best-of-seven series, with a three-games-to-one lead.
The Rockets are coming off of a 7-2 bounce back victory Wednesday night in game four after dropping game three 4-2 in Portland. Head Coach Jason Smith says it was easy to see the difference in games three and four.
鈥淕ame four was a good bounce back game. We had more pace and more jump,鈥� said Smith. 鈥淲e had no pause or hesitation which allowed us to be quicker getting out of our defensive end and gave us more possession time to create more offence.鈥�
Emotions are running high in this series. The two clubs are proving their playoff rivalry has not been lost. Smith says that鈥檚 what playoffs are about.
鈥淧layoff hockey is always full of energy and intensity,鈥� Smith said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 what these players have worked for all season.鈥�
The Rockets will be without Cal Foote and Carsen Twarynski on Friday night as they are both serving suspensions. Foote was given a three game suspension following a hit on Winterhawks forward Skyler McKenzie in game three. Foote has served one game (did not play in game four) and has two remaining to serve. Twarynski鈥檚 suspension length has yet to be determined following a hit Wednesday on Winterhawks captain Keegan Iverson.
The Winterhawks will be without forward Evan Weinger as he still has to serve one game of his two game suspension that he was given following game three.
琉璃神社 currently leads the best-of-seven series 3-1 making game five a possible elimination game. That game goes tomorrow night at Prospera Place at 7:05pm.
If necessary the series will shift back to Portland for game six.
The whole series schedule goes as follows:
Game Visitor Home Date Time
1 Portland @ 琉璃神社 Friday, April 7 7:05
2 Portland @ 琉璃神社 Saturday, April 8 7:05
3 琉璃神社 @ Portland Tuesday, April 11 7:00
4 琉璃神社 @ Portland Wednesday, April 12 7:00
5 * Portland @ 琉璃神社 Friday, April 14 7:05
6 * 琉璃神社 @ Portland Sunday, April 16 5:00
7 * Portland @ 琉璃神社 Tuesday, April 18 7:05
* If necessary
