Rockets settle for split

Photo: Marissa Baecker /Kelowna Rockets Images

The Kelowna Rockets were unable to complete the island sweep.

They'll have to settle for a split.

The Victoria Royals returned the favour on the Rockets Tuesday night in the provincial capital, beating Kelowna 6-2.

It was a bit of revenge for Monday's 5-2 defeat at the hands of the Rockets, and prevented Kelowna from sweeping all four games in Victoria.

Kaid Oliver scored a pair of goals, including the winner, a little more than three minutes apart in the opening period as the Royals built up a 3-0 lead.

His first goal, just 4:31 into the period, gave the Royals a 2-0 lead, and spelled the end of the night for Roman Basran, who allowed two goals on just five shots.

The Royals built a 5-0 lead by the five-minute mark of the second period on goals from Phillip Schultz and Tarun Fizer. Oliver assisted on both, giving him a four-point night.

Leif Mattson and Nolan Foote on a Kelowna power play got the Rockets back in it late in the period. But, a third period goal from Kody McDonald put to rest any thought of a Kelowna comeback.

Forward Liam Kindree, who has missed several games with an upper body injury, returned to the lineup Tuesday. He assisted on both Kelowna goals.

The Rockets now head to Spokane for a Friday date with the Chiefs before returning to Prospera Place for a key four-pointer with the Kamloops Blazers.

The Blazers sit just four points in back of the Rockets who hold down the final guaranteed playoff berth in the BC Division. Kamloops holds three games in hand.

The Rockets and Blazers face each other three times prior to the end of the regular season. Of Kelowna's final 10 games, those three against the Blazers are their only ones against teams below them in the standings.