After giving their new head coach a win on Friday (Jan. 10) the Kelowna Rockets came up short in Langley on Saturday, losing 6-4 to the Vancouver Giants.
Hiroki Gojsic and Max Graham both had two points while Jake Pilon made 27 saves in the loss.
The Giants wasted no time taking control, with Ty Halaburda scoring just over a minute in. Halaburda doubled down later in the first, netting a power-play goal for his second of the night and his 14th of the season. Tyler Thorpe (16) added another in the second period, giving Vancouver a 3-0 lead.
Kelowna fought as Jakub Stancl (15) blasted a power-play goal late in the second, marking his fourth in two games since his World Juniors return.
In the third period, Colton Roberts (3) pushed VancouverÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s lead to 4-1 early in the frame, but Kelowna wasnÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™t done. Hiroki Gojsic (11) scored shorthanded, and Kalder Varga (8) followed up a minute later to cut the deficit to 4-3. VancouverÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s London Hoilett responded just 40 seconds later to restore the GiantsÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™ two-goal cushion, but Michael Cicek kept the Rockets alive with his 13th of the season making the score 5-4.
The Giants sealed the deal with an empty-netter from Connor Levis (16), locking in the 6-4 win. Vancouver outshot Kelowna 34-20 and went 1-for-5 on the power play, while the Rockets capitalized on one of their three chances.
New Rockets bench boss Derrick Martin is 1-1 following the loss. The Rockets beat Prince Georg 6-3 in MartinÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s debut on Jan. 10.
Next up, the Rockets return home to face the Spokane Chiefs on Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. The game will mark the highly anticipated return of Andrew Cristall, following his trade to the Chiefs on Jan. 8.