Payworks Recap: Rockets outrun Royals in first of back-to-back meetings
The Kelowna Rockets took down the Victoria Royals 6-4 on Friday night in the first of two meetings this weekend at Prospera Place.
Playing with five defencemen, the Rockets penalty killers put in a full night’s work, shutting down six of the Royals power play opportunities on the night. The Rockets were one-for-two with the man advantage.
Jake Poole earned first star honours in the first multi-goal game of his WHL career, the 19-year-old now has five goals over his last five games. Pavel Novak posted a goal and a pair of assists. Scott Cousins potted the game-winner and an assist in his return from missing the last two games while in Covid Protocol.
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Jake Poole (8) scored the lone goal of the first period 4;17 into the game.
Pavel Novak (14) and Dylan Wightman (2) found the back of the net less than a minute apart to push the Rockets out to a 3-0 lead. Brayden Schuurman (18) got the Royals on the board 33 seconds after Wightman’s goal. Turner McMillen (5) reestablished the Rockets three-goal lead before the end of the second.
In the opening minutes of the third period, Bailey Peach (21) and Riley Gannon (10) scored back-to-back power play markers in a span of 30 seconds. The Rockets were able to hold off the comeback with goals from Scott Cousins (1) and Poole (9). Schuurman (19) scored his second of the night just before the end of the game.
#mnwild and #Blackhawks prospects Colton Dach and Pavel Novak (@pnovak111) team up to push the Rockets ahead 2-0 pic.twitter.com/IOngJp7oKr
— Kelowna Rockets (@Kelowna_Rockets) January 15, 2022
Talyn Boyko stopped 38 of the 42 shots fired on him, Royals starter Tyler Palmer turned aside 21 of the 27 shots he faced.
The Royals outshot the Rockets 42 to 27.
With the win, the Rockets record improves to 17-10-1-3, they currently sit second in the BC Division with 38 points.
Kelowna and Victoria will be back in action tomorrow night when they face off at 7:05 p.m. at Prospera Place. Tickets for Saturday’s game, as well as all other Rockets games, are available at selectyourtickets.com, at the Prospera Place box office or by phone at 250-762-5050. Select Your Tickets is open 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.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 recently announced COVID-19 health and safety requirements which includes masks, double vaccination and their vaccine pass.
