Rockets in Regina to face Pats

The Kelowna Rockets beat the Regina Pats 7-5 on Friday night at the Brandt Centre in the opener of their six-game road trip through the Prairies. Pats defenceman Josh Mahura, with his first of three goals on the night, opened the scoring four minutes into the first period for Regina’s Teddy Bear Toss. Leif Mattson responded for the Rockets at 5:37 and Braydyn Chizen pulled Kelowna ahead at 9:54. However, Regina’s Nick Henry evened things up again seven seconds later with his first of two straight goals. Henry put the Pats up 3-2 late in the period, but 1:05 later Nolan Foote netted another equalizer for Kelowna.

Then, with 22 seconds remaining in a wild opening frame, Mahura made it 4-3 for Regina heading into the first intermission.

Roman Basran started the second period for Kelowna in relief of James Porter.

Mattson tied it 4-4 with his second of the night at 2:13, and Dillon Dube, with his 17th of the season, scored a shorthanded marker for Kelowna at 5:40 to take a 5-4 lead through 40 minutes.

Carsen Twarynski netted his team-leading 20th goal of the season to extend the Rockets’ lead 5:17 into the final frame.

Nolan Foote added his second of the evening to make it 7-4 at 8:58.

Mahura completed his hat trick late in the game, but that was it for Regina’s rally.

Basran’s record improved to 3-0-0-0 after stopping 22 of the 23 shots he faced. Porter stopped 10 of 14 as Kelowna got outshot 37-32.

The Rockets’ record improved to 18-8-2-1 thanks to their sixth win in a row.

The Rockets are back in action tonight in Brandon, Man., when they take on the Wheat Kings (21-7-0-1). Puck drop is at 5:30 p.m. PT.