Rockets storm back in 3rd and beat Royals in shootout

The Kelowna Rockets returned to action after a 10-day COVID-19 break with a hard-fought win in the provincial capital.

Goals from Jake Poole, Scott Cousins and Mark Liwiski helped Kelowna fight back to force extra time and Pavel Novak scored the only goal in the shootout to earn the 4-3 victory.

Comeback kids!

Down 3-1 heading into the final frame, Scott Cousins and Mark Liwiski scored to force extra time. Pavel Novak scored the lone goal in the shootout and Talyn Boyko was perfect.@Payworks Recap➡️ https://t.co/IJj1XsGASG pic.twitter.com/zFwDzq1upD

— Kelowna Rockets (@Kelowna_Rockets) January 26, 2022

It was Poole who opened the scoring in the first period, as he fired a hard wrister past Campbell Arnold after toe dragging around the Royals defender.

That was all the scoring to speak of in the opening frame, but Victoria came out strong in the second and took control of the game.

Just past the midway mark of the period, Bailey Peach continued his strong play with his 22nd goal of the season and followed it up with his 23rd just five minutes later.

Reggie Newman would add another, beating Talyn Boyko on the powerplay to extend the home team’s lead to 3-1.

But the Rockets showed no quit and were able to pull back to within one thanks to a Scott Cousins goal less than three minutes into the third.

Scotty says, 'thank you very much!'

🚨 @cousins91 pic.twitter.com/1Mp963rQCR

— Kelowna Rockets (@Kelowna_Rockets) January 26, 2022

With less than nine minutes to play, Mark Liwiski found the scoresheet to tie things at three goals apiece.

Overtime solved nothing, so the two teams decided the game in a shootout and the only player to tickle the twine was the very first shooter, Kelowna’s Pavel Novak.

Boyko stopped all three shooters he faced after Novak gave the Rockets the lead in the shootout, preserving the 4-3 win.

These two teams will face off once again in Victoria tonight before the Rockets return to the mainland for a home-and-home series against the Vancouver Giants this weekend.