JOSH LOCKHART
The Kimberley Dynamiters played the Golden Rockets for the fourth time this season on Tuesday night.
And in this, the fourth instalment, ended up being consistent to past storylines, which is fortunate for the Nitros, but unfortunate for the Rockets.
Captain Chase Gedny opened the scoring in the first period.
To start the second, Cam Russell would neatly tuck the puck into the net, a mere 46 seconds into the period.
The Rockets did have a response to the second goal, to make it a 2-1 game. But that was as close as this game would get.
Ryan Skytt would score on the power play to finish of the second period scoring.
Thirty-one seconds into the third, Erik Delaire increased the Nitros lead to three.
Over the weekend, the Nitros powerplay was left wanting. This game, the Nitros scored their second power play goal, as Captain Gedny netted his second of the game.
Head coach and general manager Derek Stuart said that the team’s power play improved “because they identified their options before getting the puck, which allowed them to make plays.”
This game would finish 5-1 for the Nitros. Brock Palmer with three assists was named the Away Star of the Game, and Brett Anderson made 23 saves for his 13th win of the year.
Away from the scoresheet, Stuart was pleased with several players, “Halvorson was solid all game. Brandt Bertoia created a lot of scoring chances.
“Both Bennett and Spring were great on the penalty kill, and physically they were hard for Golden to handle.”
The Dynamiters have won all four meetings, outscoring the Rockets 23-5. If the KIJHL playoffs started today, the Rockets would be the Nitros’ first round match-up.
While Stuart wouldn’t necessarily say the Nitros were sending a message with their fourth convincing win, he did say “our team loves playing in that arena.”
The Nitros play both games on the road this weekend. Friday they will be in Invermere to play the Columbia Valley Rockies. Then Saturday they head to Castlegar to play the Rebels.
To keep the momentum going Stuart says that they need to “have a good practice Thursday, and hopefully on Friday we play like we did in the last half of tonights game [against Golden].”