Feb. 14, 2012 - Kent, Washington

The Seattle Thunderbirds defeated the Kelowna Rockets 4-3 in a shootout Tuesday night in Kent, Washington, kicking off a busy Western Hockey League week for the Rockets.

Kelowna trailed 3-1 after the first period, but clawed its way back into the game with two straight goals to send the game to overtime. Myles Bell tied the game on a third period penalty shot with under a minute to play in the game. The penalty shot was awarded when a Seattle player deliberately pushed the net off of its moorings.

After a scoreless overtime period, Seattle won it in a shootout. Neither Bell nor Zach Franko could beat Seattle netminder Calvin Pickard while two Seattle shooters scored on Kelowna netminder Jordon Cooke.

Earlier, Franko had scored his ninth goal of the season in the second period to cut the Seattle lead to 3-2. Carter Rigby scored his 17th of the season to open the scoring in the first period.

Burke Gallimore, Justin Hickman and Branden Troock scored for the Thunderbirds in regulation.

Rockets assistant coach Ryan Cuthbert said the Rockets had a good response after falling behind in the first period.

"We didn't quit and it showed right to the end of the game," Cuthbert said on the AM 1150 post game show. "Good on our guys for the way they responded."

For the Rockets it was the first game in a stretch of four games in five nights. Kelowna is right back in action Wednesday night at Prospera Place, hosting the Edmonton Oil Kings. On Friday Calgary comes to town before Kelowna closes the week Saturday against Red Deer.

There are tickets available for all of the games in Kelowna at www.selectyourtickets.com