232601
198930
WHL  

Rockets dropped their eighth in nine games at home Saturday

Turnovers Rockets' curse

Turnovers. They're great after dinner but not so much on the giving end of a hockey game.

The Vancouver Giants scored three times directly off Rockets' turnovers in a 4-3 victory at Prospera Pace Saturday night.

The game was deadlocked at 1-1 after 20 minutes, but a sloppy second allowed the Giants to take all the momentum and a 2-1 lead they would not relinquish.

"The second period was the difference tonight. Turnovers is one thing, but for 13 minutes in the second period we were non existent," said head coach Kris Mallette.

"We gave them momentum and never got it back. We had a push at the end, but it's a 60 minute game. The decisions we made with the puck played right into their hands"

The Rockets got off to a great start. While shorthanded, Turner McMillen stole the puck at his own blueline, streaked down the ice and deked Brett Mirwald to the backhand.

Matthew Edwards got that one back a minute later when he intercepted a clearing pass in the slot and sent a quick shot off the post and in behind Talyn Boyko.

Ty Halaburda put the Giants up for good on a second period power play when a clearing attempt found his stick in the low slot.

Connor Dale got another gift six minutes into the third picking off an attempt to clear around the end boards. He took the puck to the front of the net and banked a shot off a Rocket skate and in.

Adam Kydd scored a pair of goals in the third, the first a diving swipe at a loose puck near the edge of the crease and another when he tapped home a rebound after Carson Golder crashed the net off the right wing.

Those were sandwiched around a power play goal from Ty Thorpe.

The Rockets had a chance to get the equalizer with a two-man advantage for 50 seconds, but were unable to generate any good scoring chances.

Mallette said the Giants didn't do anything special, they just made the Rockets have to go through them, which they were unable to do.

"To have the effort we had tonight compared to last night and the execution that we had last night...it's just junior hockey.

"It makes a coach go crazy because we were so much better in all facets last night and tonight in front of our home crowd we just didn't get it done.

The Rockets finished 0-4 with the man advantage while the Giants went 2-4.

The Rockets will host Jake Poole and the Royals Sunday afternoon at 4 to close out a three game weekend.

Poole is one of two former Rockets who lead their respective teams in scoring. He comes into Sunday with 24 goals and 50 points.

Trevor Wong, who was dealt to Saskatoon in the Colton Dach trade, leads the Blades with 55 points. Saskatoon will make their lone trek into Kelowna Feb. 11.



More WHL articles