Captain Rodney Southam scored twice and Michael Herringer stopped 21 shots for the shutout to lead the Kelowna Rockets to 7-0 drubbing of the Vancouver Giants in WHL action Friday at Prospera Place.
Clad in green jerseys to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, the Rockets won for the eighth time in nine games and stayed in the running for a first-place finish in the B.C. Division.
The Rockets (44-22-5-0) remain two points back of the Prince George Cougars who defeated the Kamloops Blazers 3-1 on Friday.
For Kelowna to win the B.C. pennant, the Rockets must beat the Giants Saturday in Langley, then have Prince George lose at home to the Blazers.
If the teams were to finish tied in points, Kelowna would take first based on the goals for and against tiebreaking formula.
In the final home game of the regular season, Kole Lind had a goal and three assists for the Rockets, while Reid Gardiner and Nolan Foote each added a goal and an assist in a fight-filled game.
Foote, James Hilsendager, Braydyn Chizen and Devante Stephens all engaged in second period scraps for the Rockets, who have dominated the season series with the Giants, winning six of seven games.