Rockets' offence ignites for eight goals to beat Blazers

After losing four of their last five games against the Kamloops Blazers, the Kelowna Rockets turned up the offence and crushed the Blazers 8-2 on Friday night.

Garrett Pilon kicked things off early for the Blazers, adding his 17th goal of the season just 1:28 into the first period.

A few minutes later, Rockets' captain Rodney Southam netted his fourth goal in two games, and then the tension started to set in. A pile up in the Blazers' crease saw everyone on the ice but Michael Herringer get involved in a scuffle and a few penalties were handed out.

Tomas Soustal gave the Rockets the lead later in the first period, with his third goal in as many games. Nick Merkley finished off the period with his 21st of the year.

In the second period, Blazers' netminder Connor Ingram fell apart. First up, Lucas Johansen sent one past Ingram who couldn't see through the six guys in front of him, and then Kole Lind finished off a tic-tac-toe play for his 28th goal of the season. Just over one minute later, Dillon Dube netted a highlight reel goal, off his skate to his stick and top shelf, sending Ingram to the bench in exchange for Dylan Ferguson.

Halfway through the third period, Reid Gardiner added the Rockets' seventh goal off of a spinning pass from Merkley and then Carsen Twarynski batted in a pass from Kole Lind to further secure the win, although the Blazers' Luc Smith did snag a second goal for Kamloops late in the third.

The Blazers' goaltenders didn't receive much help from the team in front of them, as the Rockets outshot the Blazers 41-25.

If these two teams meet up in the first round of playoffs, Rockets fans will definitely hope to see this kind of play out of the team!

Next up the Rockets will head south of the border to take on the Seattle Thunderbirds on Saturday, February 25th before battling the Spokane Chiefs Sunday, February 26th.