Liam Blackburn was the hero in double overtime on a penalty shot as Liam Blackburn beat Cole Kehler five-hole for a 4-3 victory Saturday night in Merritt.
It was the Centennials who opened up the scoring in a heavily physical opening 20 minutes, as Tyler Ward got credit for the goal after Matthew Greenfield was pushed out of the net by the crashing Merritt forwards.
The Warriors tied the game up halfway through the frame on their 2nd power play, as Nick Rutigliano’s point shot beat Kehler to knot the game up.
West Kelowna took 4 penalties in the opening frame, a couple of them for defending teammates, but it was Merritt who took the lead in the final two minutes of the opening period as Colin Grannary got a lucky bounce off a skate in front of the goal to go up 2-1.
It was the Warriors who were the recipient of a pair of man-advantages in the 2nd period, and they made the Cents pay at 10:50 when Jonathan Desbiens finished off a solo effort to tie the game.
Off the next face-off, Garrett Forster hammered one off Kehler’s blocker and in to give West Kelowna their first lead of the game and silence the Merritt crowd.
Just one minute into the 3rd period it was Gavin Gould short handed who tied the game for Merritt, as the two teams tried valiantly to take a lead but neither could find the back of the goal.
In overtime, West Kelowna killed off a minor during 4 on 4, and when the game went to three on three, it turned crazy.
The Warriors were awarded a penalty shot after Malik Kaila knocked the net off intentionally. It was Kylar Hope who was stopped by the glove hand of the Centennials netminder.
Just 35 seconds later, Blackburn drew a hooking call on a partial break, earning an automatic penalty shot. Blackburn would fake high blocker and slide one through Kehler’s legs to send the Warriors off the bench.
For the 3rd time in 4 games, Matthew Greenfield picked up 1st star honours, as he came up with big timely saves repeatedly in the 3rd period and made 36 saves through 69:09.
West Kelowna finishes off their weekend with an afternoon matinee against the Surrey Eagles at Royal Lepage Place, Sunday at 2:30.
