Cougars lose game and Connolly

• The Kelowna Rockets opened their best of seven playoff series with the Prince George Cougars with a 4-1 win Friday night at Prospera Place. The Cougars didn't only lose the game but they lost leading scorer Brett Connolly in the first period. Connolly left the game with a shoulder injury after being hit by Rockets forward Mitchell Callahan. Callahan also made his presence felt on the scoreboard with two goals. Geordie Wudrick and Damon Severson, with his first career WHL playoff goal, also scored for the Rockets.
• Rockets goaltender Adam Brown made two nice saves early in the game before Mitchell Callahan hit the score sheet with a power play goal to give the home team a 1-0 lead. Brown's stop against Cougars forward Spencer Asuchak on a shorthanded breakaway was one of the main reasons why the Rockets carried the lead into the second period.
• Shane McColgan collected two assists. The 17 year-old's most impressive point came on a nice pass to Wudrick, who one timed the puck past Cougars goaltender Ty Rimmer. McColgan could have shot the puck, but drew Rimmer across before sending it over to Wudrick for his 16th career playoff goal.
• Speaking of Rimmer, it was a solid night for the veteran goalie. He had no chance on Callahan's deflection goal and the pass by McColgan to Wudrick couldn't be stopped. Damon Severson's goal to make it 3-1 was questionable, but overall Rimmer had a solid game.
• Forward Mitchell Chapman (yes he was used as a forward Friday night) left the game in the first period after being hit along the boards in the neutral zone. The impact of the hit opened the penalty box door and Chapman appeared to get his arm tangled as he crashed to the ice.
  
• Don't be fooled by the large differential in power play chances handed out in the game. The Rockets may have had seven but three of them were granted after the Cougars were guilty of sending the puck over the glass for delay of game penalties.
• This was one of the quickest games on record. It took just two hours and seven minutes to complete before the sellout crowd.