Small goalie makes big impact

• Drew Owsley was the smallest man on the ice Wednesday night, yet the 5 foot 8 goaltender made the biggest impact. Owsley made several sensational saves, some of the eye popping variety, in the Tri City Americans 3-2 win over the Kelowna Rockets. The victory gives the Americans a 3-1 series lead, heading into game five tomorrow night at the Toyota Centre.
• Owsley showed the 54 hundred fans that he was ready to play after making a sparkling glove hand save off of defenceman Tyson Barrie before being step for step with rookie forward Max Adolph on a first period penalty shot. Owsley was lucky too, yet when a goaltender is on his game, even the bounces tend to go your way. Owsley faced 35 shots on the night and was the main reason why the Americans are now one win away from advancing to the Western Conference final for the first time since 2008.
• It was the Rockets best game of the series. Often times dominating play territorially, the Rockets were physical, first on pucks, and showed urgency throughout the game, something that was sorely missed one night earlier in a 2-0 home loss. Yet, while the Rockets effort was much improved, the teams power play struggled again, going 1 for 6 with the extra man. The Rockets were given a golden opportunity late in the third period to find the equalizing goal but were unable to create some late game heroics to send the game into overtime.
• While the Rockets were given a late power play chance to tie the game, a missed call on the ensuing man advantage would have made for even a more dramatic finish. Referee's Andy Thiessen and Derek Zalaski blindly miss a tripping call when Brett Bulmer is clearly taken down by Am's forward Johnny Lazo just inside the Tri City blue line.
• The Americans may have been outplayed, but they received timely goals, including two goals shortly after the Rockets would tie the score. Tyson Barrie scores on a power play to make it 1-1 before the Americans score 18 seconds later to make it a 2-1 game. Brandon McMillan brings the Rockets to within a goal at the 10:41 mark of the third period, before Kruise Reddick scores the game winner just a minute and 10 seconds later to give the visitors a one goal edge.
• Despite making just 10 saves, Mark Guggenberger did not struggle despite allowing three goals. A good team like Tri City needs little room to create solid scoring chances, and made the most of the limited opportunities the Rockets gave them.
• Game five is Friday night at the Toyota Centre, a place where the Rockets split the opening two games of this series. The Rockets fell 5-3 in game one before earning a 3-2 win in game two. A Rockets win Friday sends the series back to Kelowna for a game six Sunday afternoon (5 pm).