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Rockets drop 3-2 game to Royals and send series to game seven

The Kelowna Rockets had the chance to knock the Victoria Royals out of the WHL playoffs on Sunday evening, but were unable to do so. The Royals kept their season alive with a 3-2 win over the Rockets, forcing the Western Hockey League Round 2 series to a game seven on Tuesday.

A weak start from the Rockets and some puck luck for the Royals allowed Victoria to jump out to a 3-0 lead in the game.

<who>Photo Credit: KelownaNow</who>He's had his ups and downs in the post-season, but defenceman Devante Stephens played a strong game at both ends of the ice on Sunday, and did the dirty work on the Rockets' second goal.

The Royals sent 16 shots at Rockets' goaltender Michael Herringer in the first period alone. In that first period, Jack Walker stepped in to net the first goal of the game, and Tyler Soy redirected the puck with his body past Herringer for the second.

The second Royals' goal was, surprisingly, a power play goal. The Royals are 3 for 28 on the power play in this series. What does that say about the Rockets? Well for one, their penalty kill has been brilliant, but on the other hand, they need to stay out of the box and keep five skaters on the ice! The Rockets allowed the Royals seven power play opportunities on Sunday evening alone.

<who>Photo Credit: KelownaNow</who>Dillon Dube was one of the better forwards for the Rockets on Sunday, adding an assist and creating quite a bit of momentum for his team.

Late in the second period Regan Nagy picked up the Royals' third and final goal. Minutes later the Rockets found some offence and Cal Foote buried his own rebound after charging into the offensive zone and easily pushing his way through the Royals' defence to the net.

<who>Photo Credit: KelownaNow</who>Rookie Cal Foote opened the scoring for the Rockets by grinding his way to the front of the net.

Things were looking up for the Rockets as Justin Kirkland snapped a wrist shot past Coleman Vollrath early in the third period, but that would be the final Rockets' goal of the night.

<who>Photo Credit: KelownaNow</who>Would the Rockets have made it this far in the series had it not been for the stellar play of Herringer?

Once again, Michael Herringer gave his team a fighting chance, making big save after big save throughout the game. He stopped 33 Royals' shots, and Vollrath stopped 25 Rockets' shots.

<who>Photo Credit: KelownaNow</who>Captain Rodney Southam was a wrecking ball out on the ice, throwing hits on any Royals player that crossed his path.

The deciding game seven will take place on Tuesday in Victoria, with the winning team earning its spot in Round 3 (Western Conference final) against the Seattle Thunderbirds, who knocked off the Everett Silverbacks 4-1 in their Round 2 series.



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