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Pavel Novak scored the only goal of a shootout in Tuesday's 4-3 win in Victoria

Rockets extra time win

The Kelowna Rockets were forced to work a little longer and dig a little deeper in the first of back-to-back games in Victoria Tuesday.

The Rockets erased a 3-1 deficit with two unanswered goals in the third then, after a scoreless overtime, rode Pavel Novak's shootout goal in a 4-3 victory.

It was the Rockets seventh win in a row over the Royals.

Jake Poole opened the scoring with his 11th of the season. He took a drop pass from Colton Dach, made a toe drag move past a defenceman before beating Campbell Arnold.

The goal runs Poole's consecutive goal streak against the Royals to six game.

The Royals took advantage of their opportunities in the second, scoring three unanswered goals on just nine shots to grab a 3-1 lead after 40 minutes. Bailey Peach with two and Reggie Newman staked the Royals to the two goal lead.

Scott Cousins started the comeback three minutes into the third. Marcus Pacheco chipped the puck into the Victoria zone, won a battle along the wall, and hit Cousins streaking through the slot.

Cousin's shot beat Arnold high to the blocker side.

Mark Liwiski, back in the lineup after serving a two-game suspension, tied it just past the midway mark of the third beating a sprawling Arnold from in close.

Neither team was able to settle things through the rest of the third and three-on-three overtime, necessitating the shootout.

Novak beat Arnold from about 20 feet out with a wrist shot high to the glove side on the first shot of the shootout.

Talyn Boyko turned all three Royals shooters away to preserve the victory.

Boyko stopped 18 of 21 shots he faced to earn the win.

The same two teams meet again Wednesday in Victoria.

The Rockets conclude their three game trip in Vancouver Friday before hosting the Giants Saturday.



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