Rockets share top spot

Photo: Wayne Moore - Castanet File Photo

Ryan Gropp had one of Seattle's goals in a 6-0 thumping of the Kelowna Rockets.

The streaking Victoria Royals have caught the Kelowna Rockets atop the Western Hockey League standings.

The Royals improved to 12-0-1-0 in their last 13 with an 8-2 thumping of Edmonton while the Jekyll and Hyde Rockets were losing 6-0 in Seattle.

The Rockets loss came 24 hours after they dominated the same Thunderbirds for the better part of two periods in a 7-4 win.

The two results allowed the Royals to pull even with the Rockets atop the overall league standings with 77 points apiece.

In Seattle, Mathew Barzal had the hat trick and picked up an assist to lead the T-Birds. Keegan Kolesar had a goal and two assists. 

Ryan Gropp and Josh Uhrich also scored for Seattle.

Logan Flodell, who gave up six goals Monday in Kelowna, turned aside all 31 shots he faced for his second shutout of the season. Both have come against the Rockets in the last nine days.

The game was scoreless until the final moments of the first period when the T-Birds scored twice in a span of 44 second.

It stayed that way until the third when Seattle opened up a 5-0 lead with three goals in 1:29.

"We were very perimeter tonight which we have been too much the last little while," said assistant coach Travis Crickard following the game.

"What I dislike is the lack of fire and passion. I haven't seen that very much this season. I just see a very vanilla game."

The Rockets head north for a pair of games in Prince George Friday and Saturday