Payworks Recap: Rockets comeback to down Royals 3-1 in shootout
The Kelowna Rockets came back to down the Victoria Royals 4-3 in a shootout their return to action on Tuesday night at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre in Victoria, BC.
It was the Rockets first game since January 15, last week the WHL announced that Kelowna was pausing team activities as a result of multiple players and staff being added to the WHL COVID-19 Protocol List due to exhibiting symptoms or having tested positive for COVID-19.
Kelowna opened the scoring in the first, but the Royals pushed back with three straight goals. Heading into the third down a pair, the Rockets were able to tie the game. Unable to determine a winner in overtime, the game went to a shootout where Pavel Novak was the lone scorer for both teams.
Talyn Boyko made the start for the Rockets, stopping 18 of the 24 shots he faced in regulation and overtime.
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Andrew Cristall put the puck into an open net on the Rockets first man advantage in the first, however the play had been blown dead before the puck entered the net as Royals starter Campbell Arnold was down on the ice injured after being run over by a player. Arnold shook it off and remained in the game. Jake Poole (11), playing in his 100th WHL regular-season game, found the back of the net for the seventh time in as many games.
The Royals responded with three straight goals in the second period, Bailey Peach (22, 23) scored a pair and Reggie Newman (2) added in a powerplay tally.
Down by two, Scott Cousins (2) scored 2:42 in the third. Poole then fed Mark Liwiski (9) the game-tying goal.
The Rockets shot first in the shootout.
Pavel Novak (goal), Jake Poole (X), and Jake Lee (X) fired for the Kelowna.
Keanu Derungs (X), Bailey Peach (X) and Marcus Almquist (X) were the shooters for Victoria.
COMEBACK COMPLETE.
Pavel Novak, rocking the fishbowl, coooooooooool as a cucumber! @pnovak111 | @CZprospects | #mnwild pic.twitter.com/vR5klA7b8z
— Kelowna Rockets (@Kelowna_Rockets) January 26, 2022
Kelowna’s power play went one-for-four, while the penalty kill shut down one-of-two Vicotira opportunities.
The Rockets outshot the Royals 36-21.
Kelowna sits second in the BC Division with 42 points and a record of 19-10-1-3.
Kelowna is back in action tomorrow when they take on the Victoria Royals again tomorrow night at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Arena, puck drop is set for 7:05 PM. You can watch all Rockets games on WHL Live on CHL TV. More are details available by visiting watch.CHL.ca.You can also listen to the game on AM1550.
The next Rockets home game is this Saturday, January 29 against the Vancouver Giants. Fans can purchase their tickets online at selectyourtickets.com, at the Prospera Place box office or by phone at 250-762-5050. The box office is open 11:00 a.m. to 4:00p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and opens at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday home game days.
All fans attending Rockets games will need to abide by the BC Provincial Health Authority, Prospera Place and the Western Hockey League‘s COVID-19 health and safety requirements which includes masks, double vaccination and their vaccine card.
