The Kelowna Rockets ended the Victoria Royals’ five-game winning streak with a 5-4 Western Hockey League overtime victory on Tuesday night at Prospera Place in the Okanagan.
The result snapped a four-game winless streak for the Rockets. Victoria, however, extended a run in which it has earned points in 11 of its past 12 games.
Pavel Novak scored at 4:34 of extra time to give the Rockets the win.
Playing catch-up with the Rockets finally caught up with the Royals as Kelowna took 1-0, 2-1 and 3-2 leads. Victoria took its first lead at 4-3 of the third period on a goal by Anthony Wilson at 2:25 of the third period before Steel Quiring leveled for Kelowna (12-9-3) less than a minute later.
Import Keanu Derungs, who will represent Switzerland at the upcoming 2022 world junior championship, led the Royals with two power-play goals and an assist. Evan Patrician, also on the power play, scored the other Victoria goal to extend his points streak to five games. Captain Tarun Fizer and Bailey Peach, who make up the Royals’ triumvirate of 20-year-old forwards with Patrician, had two assists each.
Campbell Arnold made 30 saves in goal for Victoria and Talyn Boyko 43 for Kelowna
The Royals (8-11-4) meet the Blazers (18-6) tonight in Kamloops before returning to the Island on Friday and Saturday to play the Tri-City Americans.
