The Victoria Royals hope to turn things around with their return to home ice after a tough two game loss in Kelowna last weekend during the start of their second round Western Hockey League Western Conference Semi-Finals playoff series.
The Royals erased a 3-0 deficit, but were unable to complete the comeback as they fell to the Kelowna Rockets 4-3 in overtime on Saturday night.
The Rockets’ Tyson Baillie scored the overtime winner, his second of the night, to give Kelowna the victory.
The Royals erased the 3-0 deficit in the middle frame when Brandon Magee scored his second goal of the night to send the game to overtime. Alex Forsberg notched the other marker for Victoria.
Kelowna’s other goals were potted by Gage Quinney and Tomas Soustal.
Victoria’s Coleman Vollrath turned aside 12 of the 15 shots directed his way before Justin Paulic made 11 of 12 saves in relief. Kelowna’s Jackson Whistle stopped 38 of the 41 shots he faced.
Friday night was a rout for Kelowna as the Royals fell 5-0 when the home team scored five goals in the final 40 minutes to take a 1-0 series lead in the Western Conference Semi-Finals.
Kelowna’s Tyson Baillie, Cole Martin, Gage Quinney, Rourke Chartier and Tomas Soustal tallied for the Rockets.
Coleman Vollrath stopped 39 of the 44 shots he faced for the Royals. The Rockets’ Jackson Whistle turned aside all 20 shots directed his way.
Victoria returns to the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre on Tuesday, and Wednesday for Game 3 and 4 against the Rockets. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05 P.M.
