Rockets take down T-Birds

Photo: Brian Liesse

The Kelowna Rockets kicked off a key two-game road trip on the right foot Friday.

Leif Mattson scored twice and added an assist, and Cal Foote added three assists leading the Rockets past the Seattle Thunderbirds 6-2.

The win provided some semblance of revenge for last Friday's 6-4 defeat at the hands of the T-Birds, a loss that snapped the Rockets 13-game home ice winning streak.

Carsen Twarynski also scored twice for the Rockets, giving him a team-leading 29 on the season. His 48 points are better than his career high of 45 established two seasons ago.

Jack Cowell and Colum McGauley also scored for the Rockets.

The Rockets led 2-0 after one and 4-0 after 40 minutes.

They increased the lead to 5-0, before the T-Birds got goals from Dillon Hamaliuk to Austin Strand to make the score a little more respectable. Mattson sealed the victory with a late empty net goal.

James Porter faced just 25 shots, running his record to 18-6-0-2.

Friday's win moves the Rockets three points up on the idle Vancouver Giants atop the BC Division. They hold two games in hand on the Giants.

The two teams meet Saturday night in a true first place battle in Langley.

The Rockets will return home following the game to prepare for a Wednesday tilt against the Lethbridge Hurricanes.