Rockets look for return to the win column

Too little, too late for Kelowna in 3rd period as Victoria hangs on for 4-3 road victory

The Kelowna Rockets have wrapped up a seven-game run against B.C. Division rivals to begin the current Western Hockey League campaign. Unfortunately, after a 4-3 loss to the Victoria Royals, all they have to show for their efforts is one victory.

Despite the slow start in the standings, the Rockets were a more gritty, tenacious group against the division-leading Royals on a night that had head coach Jason Smith pleased with much of the effort.

“The compete and team structure was way better,” Smith said. “I think our 5-on-5 game was much improved, and we moved the puck better on the power play. We did some good things on the penalty kill, but didn’t finish them off.”

Kelowna applied early pressure, testing goaltender Griffen Outhouse during the first minute of play, but Dante Hannoun opened the scoring for Victoria at 1:26. The diminutive 20-year-old forward picked up a loose puck at this own blue line, raced into the Rockets’ zone and wired a shot stick side past James Porter.

At 11:16, with the Royals on a power play, Kaid Oliver swept a cross-ice feed from Brandon Cutler past Porter to make it 2-0.

From the ensuing faceoff, the Royals lost control of the puck in their own end, Mark Liwiski nudged it over to Liam Kindree and the second-year forward stuffed his first of the season past Outhouse just eight seconds later.

Kindree, who led the BCMML in scoring during the 2016-17 season, made his first regular-season appearance after suffering a shoulder injury in a preseason tilt in Kamloops.

“It feels good,” Kindree said when asked about hitting the scoresheet in his first game back in the lineup. “It’s not the result we wanted, but confidence-wise coming off an injury, it helps.

“I just tried to play a quick game and keep the puck moving forward, getting pucks to the net and working the cycle down low. It’s going to be a good step forward.”

Hannoun added his second of the night at 4:53 of the second stanza, then Victoria went up 4-1 at 10:18 on a controversial play.

During a 4-on-3 man advantage, Victoria worked the puck down low where D-Jay Jerome swept it toward the open cage and raised his stick to celebrate the goal.

However, Porter had reached back, gotten his stick on the puck and the referee waved off the goal. Play continued, but upon review, the video officials determined the entire puck had crossed the goal line.

Kelowna dominated the third period and its hard work paid off. Erik Gardiner and Kaedan Korczak worked the puck to Lassi Thomson, who hammered a one-timer past Outhouse at 9:40.

Three minutes later, Kelowna scored again as some aggressive play deep in the Royals’ zone by Kyle Topping led to a loose puck. Leif Mattson corralled it near the crease and slid the puck under Outhouse just as he absorbed a stiff check from a Royals defender.

The Rockets kept the pressure on and threatened to tie the game late with an extra attacker on the ice. But Outhouse was able to shut the door to earn Victoria its fifth win in five starts.

“We were better,” Smith said. “We spent more time around the net and more time in the offensive zone and we possessed the puck and created opportunities.

“Now hopefully we can repeat that and capitalize on those opportunities.”

ICE CHIPS: The Rockets outshot the Royals 38-23 . . . . Kelowna went 1-for-3 on the power play. Victoria was 3-for-4 . . . . Three stars were Hannoun, Kindree and Thomson. . . . Rockets scratches were C Ted Brennan, D Kyle Pow, C Kyle Crosbie and RW Lane Zablocki (injured). Zablocki, 20, is in Kelowna with the team, but will not play this weekend . . . . Kelowna heads to Seattle to meet the Thunderbirds tonight, while Victoria is in Kamloops . . . . Attendance at Prospera Place was 4,361 . . . . Kelowna is 0-4 on home ice . . . . The Rockets’ next home game is Wednesday when Seattle visits. Game time is 7:05 p.m.