Morgan Klimchuk broke a 2-2 tie with 25 seconds left in the third to lead the visiting Regina Pats (10-12-1-1, 20pts) past the Victoria Royals (11-11, 22pts) 3-2 Saturday night.
“It’s a tough pill to swallow,” said Royals Assistant Coach Ben Cooper. “You want to win these games when you dominate play for the most part…but when you make a couple key mistakes at key times, it costs you. We have to have better habits and play 60 minutes.”
The Royals outshot the Pats 34-19 on the night as Teagan Satcher earned his 3rd victory and 1st star honours with a 32 save performance. Patrik Polivka kicked out 16 in his 6th loss.
It was there only meeting of the season, last year falling 7-3 in Regina, the Pats are now 5-0-0-2 lifetime against the franchise.
After a scoreless first period, Victoria would strike first on defenseman Tyler Stahl’s power play goal. Colten Mayor and Adam Rossignol scored late in the middle frame to give the Pats a 2-1 lead after 2.
The Royals would press hard in the third, and eventual find the equalizer off of Jordan Fransoo’s stick with 2:32 left, but Morgan Klimchuk found the back of the net to retake the lead with 25.1 seconds left for the win. Pats defenseman Luke Fenske had 3 assists.
Victoria was 1 for 6 on the power play, while shutting down all 3 Regina man advantages.
The Royals will play their 3rd of a 6 game homestand against the Saskatoon Blades Tuesday, before entertaining the Prince George Cougars next Friday & Saturday.
-mm
Regina Pats 3 at Victoria Royals 2 - Status: Final
Saturday, November 17, 2012 - Save-On-Foods Memorial Arena - Victoria, BC
Regina 0 2 1 - 3
Victoria 0 1 1 - 2
1st Period-
No Scoring.
Penalties-Mayor Reg (slashing), 5:26; Kanzig Vic (elbowing), 8:03; Stevenson Reg (major-fighting), 10:34; Fransoo Vic (major-fighting), 10:34; Gogolev Vic (slashing), 11:08; Williams Reg (hooking), 14:23.
2nd Period-
1, Victoria, Stahl 2 (Nelson, Gogolev), 2:17 (PP).
2, Regina, Mayor 8 (Fenske, Burroughs), 15:58.
3, Regina, Rossignol 6 (Rodewald, Fenske), 19:05.
Penalties-Fenske Reg (holding opp. stick), 0:45; Fenske Reg (tripping), 7:26; Fushimi Vic (holding), 13:58.
3rd Period-
4, Victoria, Fransoo 2 (Carroll, Walker), 17:28.
5, Regina, Klimchuk 13 (Williams, Fenske), 19:34.
Penalties-Stevenson Reg (slashing), 3:07; Williams Reg (holding), 8:31.
Shots on Goal-
Regina 4-8-7-19.
Victoria 8-10-16-34.
Power Play Opportunities-
Regina 0 / 3; Victoria 1 / 6.
Goalies-
Regina, Sacher 3-5-0-0 (34 shots-32 saves).
Victoria, Polivka 8-6-0-0 (19 shots-16 saves).
A-5,797
Referees-Pat Smith (12).
Linesmen-Kirk Van Helvoirt (107), Riley Friesen (76).
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