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| Alex Gogolev celebrates a 3-2 win with his teammates over Vancouver |
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| Patrik Polivka made 23 stops. |
Victoria built up period leads of 1-0 and 3-0 to the delight of the near sell out crowd (6,579). It was also the second night in a row where the Royals held a three goal advantage just to have the Giants climb to within one. “We got to learn to play with the lead, but we’ve got to grow through things and I’m just really excited about this time and getting the four big points.’ said Assistant Coach Enio Sacilotto.
Logan Nelson had a pair of assists, while the games first star, Alex Gogolev scored the eventual winner. Brandon Magee and Ben Walker both scored their second markers of the season.
Patrik Polivka earned his second win with a 23 save performance, while Liam Liston allowed 3 goals on 23 shots in his second consecutive loss.
Sacilotto commented on how the team was able to stave off the Giants late surge, “Patrik (Polivka) got us through it, our Penalty Kill got us through it and Brandon Magee had that big shot block.”
Victoria struck once of four man advantages, while stopping both Vancouver power plays coming in the third.
The two teams will meet again in Vancouver Sunday October 4th.
The Royals who kicked off a four game homestand, will face the Kamloops Blazers twice this coming week, Friday and Sunday afternoon at 1pm. Sacilotto knows it’ll be a big test, “I think we have a much better team than we did last year…it’s a long haul, but you can’t take the great start away from us.”
Vancouver Giants 2 at Victoria Royals 3 - Status: Final
Saturday, September 22, 2012 - Save-On-Foods Memorial Arena - Victoria, BC
Vancouver 0 0 2 - 2
Victoria 1 2 0 - 3
1st Period-
1, Victoria, Walker 2 (Nelson, Carroll), 7:15.
Penalties-Cooke Van (elbowing), 5:12; Sward Van (roughing), 15:45; Nelson Vic (roughing), 15:45; Musil Van (roughing, roughing), 16:32; Hicketts Vic (roughing, roughing), 16:32.
2nd Period-
2, Victoria, Magee 2 (Crooks), 11:55 (PP).
3, Victoria, Gogolev 1 (Nelson), 12:21.
Penalties-Sward Van (roughing), 4:36; Moar Van (tripping), 11:22.
3rd Period-
4, Vancouver, Burns 2 (Tvrdon, Houck), 10:42.
5, Vancouver, Franson 3 (Houck, Musil), 19:33.
Penalties-Tvrdon Van (interference), 3:30; Nelson Vic (hooking), 8:29; Moar Van (major-fighting), 15:40; Dixon Vic (instigator, major-fighting, game misconduct), 15:40.
Shots on Goal-
Vancouver 4-8-13-25.
Victoria 10-8-5-23.
Power Play Opportunities-
Vancouver 0 / 2; Victoria 1 / 4.
Goalies-
Vancouver, Liston 0-2-0-0 (23 shots-20 saves).
Victoria, Polivka 2-0-0-0 (25 shots-23 saves).
A-6,579
Referees-Adam Griffiths (36), Pat Smith (12).
Linesmen-Riley Friesen (76), Kirk Van Helvoirt (107).
ROYALS GET BACK-TO-BACK WINS OVER GIANTS
Alex Gogolev nets his first for Victoria in 3-2 win over Vancouver.
For Immediate Release
Saturday, September 22nd, 2012
Victoria, BC – In a Saturday night match-up at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre, the Victoria Royals squared off in their home opener against the Vancouver Giants after defeating the Giants in Vancouver on Friday. The Royals started Patrik Polivka in net while the Giants gave the nod to Liam Liston.
Ben Walker opened the scoring at 7:15 of the first period as Victoria pinned Vancouver in their zone after an expired powerplay. Walker beat Liston off the right post when Austin Carroll poked the puck to him from the middle of the crease. The Royals took the 1-0 lead into the first intermission.
Brandon Magee extended Victoria’s lead to 2-0 at 11:55 of the second period on a powerplay goal. Magee accepted a long stretch pass from Jamie Crooks and broke in alone on Liston before he made a toe-drag move and slotted the puck between the Vancouver netminder’s pads. Victoria added another marker just 36 seconds later when Alex Gogolev potted his first in a Royals’ uniform. Logan Nelson sped down the left wing on a two-on-one before he feathered a saucer pass to Gogolev who batted the puck into the open net. After two periods of play, Victoria held a 3-0 lead.
Vancouver added their first goal of the game mid-way through the final frame on a goal from Nathan Burns. Marek Tvrdon centered a pass from behind the net that bounced off a couple bodies in front before Burns buried it on his second swing. The Giants would press with another marker in the final 30 seconds from Cain Franson, but it would not be enough. Victoria 3 Vancouver 2.
Victoria went 1/2 = 50.0% on the power play, while Vancouver was 0/2 = 00.0%. The Giants outshot the Royals 25-23.
The Royals’ next game is Friday, September 28th when they play host to the Kamloops Blazers. Puck drop is set for 7:05 p.m. Sunday, September 30th will see the Royals host the Blazers again for a 1:00 p.m. start. Fans can get in on the action at each of these games for just $5 with Money Mart Mad Monday on September 24th. Limited quantities of $5 tickets for both games will be made available this Monday beginning at 9:30 a.m. at the Select Your Tickets Box Office.
Guarantee yourself the best seats with Royals’ season tickets, mini packs or single game tickets by visiting www.victoriaroyals.com, calling 250-220-7889, or emailing vrtickets@victoriaroyals.com before it’s too late!
