“I thought we played really good in the first period, and we did everything we have to do to win a game in here…” said Head Coach Dave Lowry,
“We got away from our game, we let them dictate the pace of the play and special teams was the difference.”
Leon Draisaitl broke a 2-2 third period tie, and Tyson Baillie shorthanded added the insurance marker.
The Royals (33-24-3-1, 70pts) led 2-0 after 20 on goals by Austin Carroll (35th) and Greg Chase (18th), but the Rockets added a pair in the second, and two more in the third for their 8th straight home victory.
“We put ourselves in a position were we should’ve won a hockey game…” said Lowry,
“If we could’ve maintained the momentum we had in the first period - we win a hockey game.”
Victoria was 0 for 7 on the power play, while the Rockets went 1 for 3.
“We had more than enough opportunities to win on the power play, we didn’t execute - basically we got outworked.” said Lowry
Chance Braid had a goal and a fight with Taylor Crunk, while Madison Bowey supplied the other goal for the home team.
Kelowna, the top team in the WHL now leads the season series 5 games to 2, and will wrap up the set at home March 11th.
It was the third straight meeting between in six days the clubs, with Victoria earning a split on home ice last weekend.
“We learned that we can play with this team ,and play with anyone in this league when we’re playing our best, so we’ll take those strides and move forward.” said Chase on 3 in a row versus the #2 ranked club in the CHL.
“I don’t think we’re too far away…” added Lowry. “I thought Saturday night (5-2 win) was a great game, it epitomized what we have to do to win…”
Justin Paulic made 25 stops in the loss, while Michael Herringer kicked out 25 shots for the win.
Brandon Magee extended his point streak to 5 games, with 6 points (1g 5a). It was Logan Fishers 200 WHL game, and Brandon Fushimi’s 19th birthday. Chase was named 3rd star.
With the goal, Carroll now has a team leading 70 points. Hicketts added an assist to his defenseman leading 47 helpers and 56 points - tops in the league.
Victoria’s two game BC Divison road swing wraps up Friday night in Kamloops against the 5th place Blazers.
The Royals
return home on Monday, March 2nd and Tuesday, March 3rd to
host the Seattle Thunderbirds for a two-game
set. Puck drop for both contests is slated for 7:05 p.m.
- Marlon Martens
Victoria Royals 2 at Kelowna Rockets 4 - Status: Final
Wednesday, February 25, 2015 - Prospera Place - Kelowna, BC
Victoria 2 0 0 - 2
Kelowna 0 2 2 - 4
1st Period-
1, Victoria, Carroll 35 (Reddekopp, Magee), 13:17.
2, Victoria, Chase 18 (Hicketts), 17:56.
Penalties-served by Coughlin Kel (too many men), 4:03; Brown Vic (hooking), 12:57; Draisaitl Kel (embellishment), 12:57.
2nd Period-
3, Kelowna, Bowey 15 (Linaker, Goulbourne), 5:57.
4, Kelowna, Braid 11 (Linaker, Stadel), 15:07 (PP).
Penalties-Reddekopp Vic (inter. on goaltender), 0:43; Crunk Vic (major-fighting), 6:11; Braid Kel (major-fighting), 6:11; Soy Vic (roughing), 7:00; Bowey Kel (roughing), 7:00; Stadel Kel (inter. on goaltender), 7:00; Bowey Kel (hooking), 11:45; Fisher Vic (interference), 14:21; Martin Kel (holding), 15:46; Carroll Vic (roughing), 16:22; Bowey Kel (roughing), 16:22; Baillie Kel (roughing), 18:36.
3rd Period-
5, Kelowna, Draisaitl 12 (Merkley), 13:22.
6, Kelowna, Baillie 35 (Southam), 15:57 (SH).
Penalties-Merkley Kel (slashing), 4:10; Fushimi Vic (roughing), 8:47; Goulbourne Kel (hooking), 14:35.
Shots on Goal-
Victoria 12-9-6-27.
Kelowna 12-12-5-29.
Power Play Opportunities-
Victoria 0 / 7;
Kelowna 1 / 3.
Goalies-
Victoria, Paulic 13-12-1-1 (29 shots-25 saves).
Kelowna, Herringer 8-2-0-0 (27 shots-25 saves).
A-5,061
Referees-Steve Papp (17), Jeff Ingram (82).
Linesmen-Kevin Crowell (141), Dustin Minty (86).
