Surging Rockets win all-B.C. battle with Royals

KELOWNA 3 VICTORIA 1

It was another night and another fine goaltending performance by the Victoria Royals’ Griffen Outhouse.

But Outhouse’s 26 saves weren’t enough this time in a 3-1 Western Hockey League victory by the Kelowna Rockets before 5,033 fans at Prospera Place in the Okanagan.

Kyle Topping of Salt Spring Island had the only goal through two periods when he beat Outhouse on a Kelowna power play at 10:57 of the second period. Liam Kindree added a Rockets goal in the third period to push their cushion to two goals.

Kaid Oliver, with his teamleading 14th goal of the season, brought Victoria back to within one at 18:18 of the third period to ruin Roman Basran’s shutout bid late. But Leif Mattson put it out of reach with an empty-net goal at 19:53.

Kelowna is 11-13-1 but 7-3-1 since former NHLer and two-time Stanley Cup-champion Adam Foote took over as Rockets head coach on Oct. 23.

The Royals (12-7) head over the Coquihalla to face the B.C. Division-leading Vancouver Giants (15-6-2) tonight at the Langley Events Centre. The Giants did not play Friday and should be well rested.

The Royals return to the Island to face the Saskatoon Blades on Wednesday night in the Blades’ once-every-two-years visit to Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre.