After 10 days off due to a Covid delay, The Kelowna Rockets returned to the ice for a hard-fought two games against the Victoria Royals, but they came away with the sweep.
Starting on Tuesday, the Rockets overcame a 3-1 deficit to pull off a 4-3 shootout win.
Unsurprisingly, the Royals were lead by star forward Bailey Peach.
Peach netted two goals, his 22nd and 23rd of the season. Reggie Newman added a powerplay goal for the Royals. However, Scott Cousins and Mark Liwiski tied it for the Rockets in the third period. Pavel Novak scored in the shootout to get the Rockets the win.
The Rockets outshot the Royals 36-21. Jake Poole opened the scoring at 11:45 in the first. Poole also assisted Liwiski’s tally.
Talyn Boyko made 18 saves in the Rockets victory, while Campbell Arnold made 33 saves for the Royals.
On Wednesday, the Rockets got off to a good start outshooting the Royals 10-3. However, they were not able to capitalize. But they were able to do so in the second. Andrew Cristall found the back of the net for the first time in seven games, and John Babcock scored his first WHL goal. The score was 3-1 for the Rockets after two periods.
The Royals struck back in the final frame. Bailey Peach struck with his 24th at 2:20 of the third to make it 3-2. Matthew Hodson tied things up shortly after with his second of the night, and with a nice wrist shot at 18:06, Jake Lee secured the win for the Rockets. It was Lee’s ninth of the season and third game-winner of the year.
Colton Dach chipped in with two more assists, bringing him to 20 assists on the season. Adam Kydd continues to impress his new Rocket teammates. He has five points in five games since his trade from the Hitmen.
Talyn Boyko got the night off from the net, allowing Jari Kykkanen to claim his first WHL win. The Rockets fired 49 shots on Tyler Palmer, who made 45 saves and was the game’s first star of the night.
With the two wins, the Rockets are 20-10-1. They sit comfortably in second place in the B.C. Division. Their 44 points are eight ahead of the third-place Prince George Cougars. They are now seven points behind the first place Kamloops Blazers. They have 51 points.
The Rockets will be busy with back-to-back games against the Vancouver Giants this upcoming weekend. With Friday’s game on the road at the Langley Events Centre and Saturday’s back home at Prospera Place.
