Thursday 28 February 2013

Recap: Lethbridge 5 - Victoria 4

Ty Rimmer stopped 44, including this one off of Ben Walker in a 5-4 Hurricanes win
Photo Credit: Jon Howe & Victoria Royals

Ty Rimmer made 44 saves to back stop the visiting Lethbridge Hurricanes to a 5-4 victory over the Victoria Royals Wednesday night.

“I thought we generated a lot of opportunities and scored four goals, got 48 shots, gave ourselves and opportunity to win – tonight we were on the wrong end of it.” – Dave Lowry Royals Head Coach

The victory snapped the Hurricanes winless in 6 drought, but extended the Royals slide to 7 games (0-6-0-1).  Lethbridge remains 5 back of 8th place Kootenay.

Victoria overcame an early 3-0 deficit and pulled even in the second, before Lethbridge added another pair, the later short handed.  The Royals brought the game to within one with the goaltender pulled and hit the post in the dying seconds but fell short.

Coleman Vollrath stops Jamien Yakuboswki in tight.
“We just need to get back to a full 60 minute hockey game, every guy needs to bring his own personal game and what he does best and hopefully we can start it off on Friday.” – Tim Traber Royals Forward

Victoria forward Logan Fisher was helped off on a stretcher in the 2nd period after taking a hit against the boards by Graham Hood.  There was no penalty on the play.

After the game Royals Assistant Coach Ben Cooper shed some light on Fisher’s condition,

“He’s a wake and alert and walking around and he’s talking, he just can’t remember the hit.”
Tim Traber crashes the net.

Logan Nelson had two goals and an assist for the Royals, Brett Cote with 3 helpers and Jamie Crooks a goal and an assist.  Jordan Fransoo rounded out the scoring for the home team. 

Lethbridge had not scored in their previous 6 periods heading in, and were lead by Jamal Watson’s pair, as four Canes had two point nights.

“For sure (Rimmer) was the difference, when you put 48 shots up in the game you expect to win the game with 2 power play goals as well…he played well for them.”  Royals Forward Logan Nelson

Patrik Polivka’s night ended early, just 7:11 into the first after allowing 3 goals on 8 shots, Coleman Vollrath stopped 19 of 21.  Ty Rimmer the league leader in minutes and saves stopped 44 pucks as the Royals heavily outshot the ‘Canes 48-29.

Victoria’s power play went 2 for 8, while Lethbridge was 1 for 3.

Brandon Fushimi on Rimmer's doorstep.
“They capatalized on their chances early on and we didn’t on ours…and the difference is we took a penalty after the whistle and they made us pay for it.” Lowry said.

With 10 games left, the Royals find themselves 7 points back of the Chiefs and will wrap up their 5 game home stand (0-3) with a pair against Spokane Friday and Saturday.

-Marlon Martens

Lethbridge Hurricanes 5 at Victoria Royals 4 - Status: Final
Wednesday, February 27, 2013 - Save-On-Foods Memorial Arena - Victoria, BC

Lethbridge 3 1 1 - 5
Victoria 2 1 1 - 4

1st Period-
1, Lethbridge, Watson 15 (Duke, Leverton), 5:16.
2, Lethbridge, Yakubowski 32 (Ramsay, Maxwell), 5:34.
3, Lethbridge, Mckechnie 25 (Hood, Ramsay), 7:11 (PP).
4, Victoria, Nelson 9 (Walker, Stahl), 7:48.
5, Victoria, Nelson 10 (Cote, Crooks), 19:27 (PP).

Penalties-Derko Let (major-fighting), 5:05; Kanzig Vic (major-fighting), 5:05; Dixon Vic (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 6:28; Hood Let (roughing), 10:42; Kanzig Vic (checking from behind), 13:29; Hackman Let (delay of game), 18:11; Ramsay Let (slashing), 19:03.

2nd Period-
6, Victoria, Fransoo 6 (Cote), 9:32 (PP).
7, Lethbridge, Henry 4   15:25.

Penalties-Pilon Let (hooking), 7:52; Dixon Vic (kneeing), 11:12; Mckechnie Let (tripping), 17:59; Ramsay Let (tripping), 19:23.

3rd Period-
8, Lethbridge, Watson 16 (Maxwell, Henry), 7:19 (SH).
9, Victoria, Crooks 31 (Nelson, Cote), 19:33.

Penalties-Sofillas Let (high sticking), 3:23; Sofillas Let (slashing), 5:45.

Shots on Goal-
Lethbridge 14-8-7-29.
Victoria 21-15-12-48.

Power Play Opportunities-
Lethbridge 1 / 3;
Victoria 2 / 8.

Goalies-
Lethbridge, Rimmer 23-25-2-7 (48 shots-44 saves).
 Victoria, Polivka 28-14-1-3 (8 shots-5 saves); Vollrath 2-9-0-1 (21 shots-19 saves).

A-4,231
Referees-Ryan Benbow (62), Sean Raphael (28).
Linesmen-Riley Friesen (76), Kirk Van Helvoirt (107).