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It was a night full of milestones for the Kelowna Rockets in the provincial capital on Wednesday.
Kelowna skated to a second consecutive 4-3 win over the Victoria Royals, this time in regulation, the club’s 20th victory of the season.
Seventeen-year-old Jari Kykkanen gave Talyn Boyko a well-deserved rest and made his WHL debut in the Rockets’ net, making 21 saves on 24 shots for the milestone win.
Twenty wins on the season? Yeeeeeeep!
— Kelowna Rockets (@Kelowna_Rockets) January 27, 2022
A couple of big milestones for Babcock and Kykkanen? Biiiiingoooo! @Payworks Recap➡️ https://t.co/Me6CS6fTn2 pic.twitter.com/rhPhcxkJJK
John Babcock also earned an exciting milestone Wednesday night, scoring his first career WHL goal on a bizarre play that saw the puck ring around the glass, hit a stanchion and deflect off Royals’ netminder Tyler Palmer and in.
That was the third Rockets goal of the evening, as Andrew Cristall and Mark Liwiski put Kelowna ahead 2-0 with goals early in the second period.
Babcock restored that two-goal lead later in the frame after Anthony Wilson cut the Royal’s deficit to one.
Babs with one of the strangest first goals, but he'll take it!
— Kelowna Rockets (@Kelowna_Rockets) January 27, 2022
🚨 @John_babcock04
🍎 @MaxGraham04 pic.twitter.com/DYIS6PhMnr
Down 3-1 to start the final period, it was once again Bailey Peach who put Victoria on his back, netting his 24th of the season to bring Victoria back to within one.
Just three minutes later, the game was tied after Matthew Hodson beat Kykkanen from the circle after a nice passing play in the Rockets’ zone.
For a second straight night, the game looked destined for overtime, but Jake Lee had other ideas.
Little shake and bake from Leezer.
— Kelowna Rockets (@Kelowna_Rockets) January 27, 2022
🚨 @JakeLee03409003
🍎 Colton Dach #Blackhawks
🍏 @markliwiski13 pic.twitter.com/hjfjowHBDD
The Rockets defenceman corralled a puck at the point, made a move on the Royals’ forward covering him and wired a shot through a crowd and past Palmer to give his team the final lead of the night.
Kelowna now sits 20-10-1-3 on the season, which puts them second in the BC Division with 44 points, seven back of the Kamloops Blazers with three games in hand.
Next up for the Rockets is a home-and-home with the Vancouver Giants, which kicks off Friday night in Langley before moving up to the Okanagan on Saturday.
Thumbnail photo courtesy of Kevin Light/Victoria Royals.
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