Royals inspired; Rockets lethargic

Photo by Marrissa Baecker (Colton Heffley and Austin Carroll square off)

• The Kelowna Rockets were looking for their 30th win of the season Friday night against the Victoria Royals. Instead they were handed their 30th loss. A three goal third period lifted the Royals to a 3-1 win, snapping the Rockets winning streak at a modest three games. The Royals were full marks for the win. They out-worked the Rockets for the majority of the night and had six grade 'A' chances in the second period alone. It was only goaltender Adam Brown that kept this game from turning into a blow out. Surprisingly, the Rockets carried a 1-0 lead into the third period thanks to Myles Bell's 14th goal of the season.
• Glaring turnovers were the key in the Royals win. Tyson Baillie and Colton Heffley were guilty of giving up the puck and defenceman Damon Severson was outworked in the neutral zone, resulting in the opening goal of the third period by the Royals.
  
• With a late power play and the goaltender pulled for the extra attacker, leading goal scorer Brett Bulmer found himself stapled to the bench. It was a clear message from the coaching staff that they were none to pleased with the effort of their top skater. Of the 27 shots directed towards the net, I can recall Bulmer getting just one shot on goal. Against a team (Victoria) that has allowed the most goals against in the league, it should have been a field day for the Rockets leading scorers. Instead it was a lacklustre effort.
  
• When you look at the official score sheet you will notice that two of the Royals three goals were unassisted. That tells you one of two things. Either the referee isn't very generous in handing out assists, or the goals that were scored were the result of glaring turnovers. Obviously you know the answer to that question.
  
• This game featured three fights, including a solid tilt between Rockets forward Colton Heffley and Victoria's Austin Carroll. The two traded punches before Carroll left the game for repairs. It was Heffley's 6th fight of the season and Carroll's fifth.
  
• The game marked Heffley's 100th of his career.
• The Royals have allowed one goal or less on the road only twice this season. Take a guess which team that's happened against? Yep, the Royals were a 3-1 winner Friday night and earned a 2-1 win in Kelowna on December 2nd.
• Rockets rookie Filip Vasko returned to the line up Friday night. The 18 year-old was out 20 games with a lower body injury.