The Kelowna Rockets faced off against the Victoria Royals at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre Monday night and handed a defeat to their BC Conference neighbours.
Lassi Thomson opened the scoring for the Kelowna Rockets, beating Brock Gould at 9:04 in the first frame with some breakout help from Mark Liwiski and Devin Steffler.
Laaaaaaasssssiii!!!
— Kelowna Rockets (@Kelowna_Rockets) February 18, 2019
🍎 @markliwiski13
🍏 @DevinSteffler pic.twitter.com/TeKgVCA6EY
Despite the Royals outshooting the Rockets 14-11, Thomson’s goal was the only in the first period, giving the Rockets the lead heading into the second.
A pair of penalties on both sides inevitably led to a Royals powerplay. Victoria’s Kody McDonald capitalized on the opportunity, tying the game at one with 15:40 left in the second period.
Schael Higson decided to reestablish the lead before the frame came to a close, putting a rocket past the glove of Gould to make it 2-1 with less than five minutes left in the second period.
Look out, incoming Higgy 💣 pic.twitter.com/6dWvLzFJtv
— Kelowna Rockets (@Kelowna_Rockets) February 18, 2019
Victoria answered midway through the third period with Kaid Oliver making a lone effort to add another tally and tie the game at two.
Shortly after, Kyle Topping put the Rockets on top with a goal that would become the game winner.
What work by @ethanernst11 and @DallonWilton to keep it alive and find @Topping11! pic.twitter.com/C70h5xVOZ3
— Kelowna Rockets (@Kelowna_Rockets) February 19, 2019
Liwiski, assisted by Alex Swetlikoff and Thomson, and Connor Bruggen-Cate, assisted by Kaedan Korczak and Dallon Wilton, added some further distance with a pair of Rockets goals near the end of the third, the two being scored within a minute of each other.
Victoria was unable to answer to the blitzkrieg Rockets offence, giving the Rockets the 5-2 win.
The Rockets take this one! pic.twitter.com/qD9rUbfZJ8
— Kelowna Rockets (@Kelowna_Rockets) February 19, 2019
The two teams will meet again tomorrow night for another match in Victoria. Puck drop is at 7:05 p.m. in Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre.
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