Rocket Recap: Royals top Rockets in shootout battle
The Kelowna Rockets picked up a point in a 4-3 shootout loss to the Victoria Royals on Saturday night at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Arena in Victoria B.C.
The Royals special teams carried their team throughout the night, netting a shorthanded goal and a power-play tally to force the game to go to extra time on the island.
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The Rockets took an early lead just 1:14 into the game on a goal from Kyle Topping (10). Tarun Fizer (17) took off on a shorthanded breakaway to even up the game just before the midway point of the period. Trevor Wong (5) pushed the Rockets ahead with four seconds left in the first, driving to the net he connected on Pavel Novak’s centering feed.
Nifty moves.
???? @wongtrevor8
???? @pnovak111 pic.twitter.com/uoINyOwuyv— Kelowna Rockets (@Kelowna_Rockets) February 23, 2020
Sixteen-year-old defenceman Elias Carmichael (1) put the Rockets up 3-1 with his first WHL goal. Brayden Tracey (19) made it a one-goal game late in the second.
A mad scramble that Carmichael won’t ever forget. pic.twitter.com/b8GWhpwcwi
— Kelowna Rockets (@Kelowna_Rockets) February 23, 2020
Tracey (20) tied up the game 19 seconds into the third with his second power-play goal of the game. Dillon Hamaliuk appeared to give the Rockets the lead again with 3:57 to play in the third, but it was waved off due to goaltender interference.
In overtime, Kyle Topping had everyone beat as he worked his way around the defence but nailed the post.
The Rocket shot first in the shootout. Conner McDonald (goal), Matthew Wedman (X) and Kyle Topping (X) fired for the Rockets
Kaid Oliver (goal), Gary Haden (goal) were both successful for the Royals.
Victoria outshot Kelowna 37-36.
The Rockets went 0-for-5 on the power play, while the Royals were 1-for-2 with the man advantage.
Here are tonight's @Trufrozen Three Stars: pic.twitter.com/2ZTSXKBZlQ
— Kelowna Rockets (@Kelowna_Rockets) February 23, 2020
