Third period meltdown

• The Kelowna Rockets are a good team when they follow the game plan to a tee. Deviate off that game plan and disaster is soon to follow. That's exactly what we witnessed Friday night in a 7-5 loss to the Victoria Royals. A textbook road game saw the Rockets with a 5-2 lead midway through the second period only to see the Royals charge back with five unanswered goals. The result extended the Rockets losing streak to four games. It also marked the first time since October 20th of last season that the Rockets surrendered seven goals in one game. It was on that date that the Vancouver Giants came into Kelowna and beat the Rockets by a 7-5 final.
• Part of the collapse was the result of taking penalties. The Rockets took four of six minors in the third period and were promptly out-shot 15-3.
  
• I thought 17 year-old Rockets defenceman Damon Severson had a solid game back on the blue line. A three assist effort gives him six points on the season. All of his points have been registered in two games.
• Twenty year-old Kevin Smith injured himself in warm up. With Smith being scratched, rookie Austin Ferguson was pressed into action.
  
• Colton Heffley snapped a 28 game goal scoring drought with the Rockets second goal of the night. Originally credited to rookie Jesse Lees, Heffley earned his 3rd goal of his young career. Lees scored his first career goal minutes later, on the power play, on a nice pass from the corner boards.
  
• I thought both goaltenders struggled in this one. Twelve goals combined would lead you to that obviously conclusion. But in saying that, Royals netminder Keith Hamilton made two significant saves in the win. A nice glove hand save off of Shane McColgan in the second was followed by a desperation pad save in the third period against Colton Sissons when the Royals had a one goal lead.
  
• The Rockets scored three of their five goals on the power play. The team has scored five goals in their last 12 opportunities for a success rate of 41 percent.
• A really good vibe inside the arena on Friday night. With the home team drawing closer to tying the game, the fans made a ton of noise. The Royals players didn't get that type of reception last year in Chilliwack from the hometown faithful. Two fans dressed in NHL hockey jersey's were often seen jeering the Rockets players as they sat in the penalty box. In some respects, it was good old fashioned hockey in a terrific facility.