Rockets win against Giants, lose next 2
The Kelowna Rockets closed out their three games in three nights weekend with a 5-1 loss to the Victoria Royals on Sunday at Prospera Place in Kelowna.
The Royals took control of the game in the first period, scoring three goals in a span of 3:10 toward the end of the frame. Victoria then cemented their lead in the second with another two goals.
The Rockets registered a season-low 14 shots on net, Jackson DeSouza broke the Royals shutout bid late in the game.
“We should’ve been the fresher team,” said head coach Kris Mallette on Victoria travelling overnight to Kelowna from Spokane.
“We should’ve been the hungrier team, and they came as advertised – we knew they were going to work. Our inability to play physically while a team is skating circles around us puts us behind the eight ball in a hurry – especially in the first period.”
Following the Kelowna Rockets snapping out of their four-game losing streak with a 4-1 victory over the Vancouver Giants on Friday night at the Langley Events Centre, the Rockets fell 4-3 to the Vancouver Giants on Saturday night at Prospera Place.
After the Rockets scored the opening goal, the Giants pushed back with three unanswered goals. Adam Kydd inched the Rockets back within one twice in the final frame, but Kelowna was unable to capitalize on a five-on-three power play opportunity with 3:36 to play in the game.
“The second period was the difference for us tonight,” said Rockets head coach Kris Mallette. “Turnovers are one thing, but for 13 minutes in the second period we were nonexistent and gave them momentum that we couldn’t get back. We had a push at the end, but it’s a 60-minute game.”
Carson Golder returned to the lineup Friday night after missing the Rockets last four games with an upper-body injury. The 20-year-old forward posted a pair of goals en route to earning third star-honours. Goaltender Talyn Boyko made 29 saves on 30 shots.