Rockets split weekend pair

Photo: Marissa Baecker

Rockets forward Leif Mattson had the Kelowna Rockets' second goal in a 4-2 loss to the Victoria Royals on Saturday night.

After doubling up the Victoria Royals in their building 4-2 on Friday night, the Kelowna Rockets dropped round two by a 4-2 score on Saturday, the second game of a weekend doubleheader on Vancouver Island.

The Royals started fast on Saturday, scoring three times in 13 minutes to begin the game. 

The score would remain 3-0 for Victoria until the home team extended its lead to four early in the third period.

Nolan Foote cracked opened the scoring for the Rockets with just over five minutes remaining in regulation, and Leif Mattson scored 62 seconds later for good measure. 

Victoria outshot Kelowna 15-8 in the first and 8-4 in the second, respectively. The Rockets led 10-9 in third-period shots.

Brodan Salmond suffered the loss in goal for the Rockets, making 28 saves. 

Royals goaltender Griffen Outhouse needed only 20 saves to earn his league-leading 11th win of the season.

The loss is the second in three games for Kelowna to begin their November schedule.

A weekend-split keeps the Royals eight points of the second-place Rockets in the B.C. division. Victoria has played 19 games to Kelowna's 17.

The Rockets now have five days off from game action before hosting the Vancouver Giants on Nov. 10 at Prospera Place.