CRANBROOK - Cole Martin had the winner at 14:17 of the third period, and the Kelowna Rockets scored three times in the third period to defeat the Kootenay Ice 3-1 in WHL action on Tuesday.
Tyson Baillie also scored for Kelowna (20-9-1-1), which received a 29-save effort from Jordan Cooke. Collin Shirley replied for Kootenay (9-20-1-0). Wyatt Hofflin stopped 30 shots in defeat.
After a scoreless first period, Shirley opened the scoring early in the second with a power-play goal at 1:37. Kyle O'Connor and Levi Cable earned assists.
In the third, though, the Rockets turned the tables, scoring three times in the second half of the frame. Baillie made it 1-1 at 12:42 on the power play. The goal was his ninth of the season. Then, at 14:17, Martin made it 2-1, with Cody Fowlie and Damon Severson drawing assists. Baillie closed out the scoring with his second of the night into an empty net at 18:35.
The game was Kelowna's first of a five-game foray into the Central Division that wraps up Sunday in Calgary against the Hitmen.
Tonight, Kelowna visits the Lethbridge Hurricanes (16-14-1-4). Game time is 6 p.m. (AM 1150, Sportsnet). After tonight, the Rockets visit the Medicine Hat Tigers on Friday, the Red Deer Rebels on Saturday, and, lastly, Calgary on Sunday.
In B.C. Division standings, the second-place Rockets are 11 points back of the front-running Kamloops Blazers (25-7-1-2), who scored a 3-2 shootout win over Calgary (20-7-1-3) on Tuesday night.
Colin Smith scored his league-leading 24th and 25th goals and scored again in the shootout for Kamloops.
Smith and Brendan Ranford beat Hitmen goalie Chris Driedger on dekes in the shootout for Kamloops. Victor Rask got Calgary's shootout goal.