Recap: VIC 2 - CGY 5

Coleman Vollrath holds the line against Calgary, but fell 5-2 to the Hitmen

Defenseman Alex Roach scored two power play goals in the third to lead the Calgary Hitmen to a 5-2 victory over the visiting Victoria Royals Friday night.

The 4 game season series is now tied at a one, and Victoria will play again at the Saddledome again on Feb. 16th.

The Royals bench at Calgary

It’s the 5th win in a row for Calgary who remain the top seed in the East, one point ahead of Prince Albert.  Victoria suffers their 6th consecutive set back, all on the road – part of 7 consecutive away from home. 

Steven Hodges (1g) takes a faceoff

After the Hitmen’s Pavlo Padakin opened the scoring in the second, Royals Captain Tyler Stahl tied it up on the power play with his first of the season.  With just 8 seconds left in the middle frame, Elliot Peterson retook the lead for Calgary.

“That was turning point of the game, I thought up to then we were playing a pretty good hockey game.” said Royals Assistant Coach Enio Sacilotto. 

Calgary scored three more in the third, Brady Brassart, followed by a pair on the power play by Alex Roach who had a 3 point night and was named first star.  Victoria’s Steven Hodges extended his point streak to 6 games (2g 4a) with a short handed goal at the 19:58 mark of the third.

“We started the third pretty strong in the first few shifts, and we had a couple good shots on net.  They came down and scored the third one and then it was over after that, very disappointing.” said Sacilotto.

The Royals outshot the Hitmen 29-26, and their power play went 1 for 5.  The Hitmen were 2 for 8 with the man advantage.

Netminder Chris Driedger collected his 10th win and second star honours with a 24 save performance. 

Brandon Magee warms up Coleman Vollrath

Playing in his hometown, Coleman Vollrath made 21 saves for Victoria with Patrik Polivka his back up, as Jared Rathjen was reassigned to Whitecourt (AJHL). 

Defenseman Kolton Dixon was also reassigned to Okotoks (AJHL).

It was a physical affair, as Keegan Kanzig took the decision in a fight with Jaynen Rissling, and Austin Carroll victorious over Darian Henry.  A total of 80 minutes in penalties were called.

“We’re going to have to play a really good hockey game going into Medicine Hat, they’re hot right now, so it’s going to be a tough game."  The Royals wrap up a 5 game in 9 night stretch, Saturday night in Medicine Hat.  Sacilotto is confident going in,

"I think we’re more than capable of playing well against them, as we’ve beaten them earlier in the year - so there’s no reason we can’t repeat it, and finish this road trip off on a good note.”

-mm

Victoria Royals 2 at Calgary Hitmen 5 - Status: In Progress (2:27 remaining in 3rd)
Friday, November 9, 2012 - Scotiabank Saddledome - Calgary, AB

Victoria 0 1 1 - 2
Calgary 0 2 3 - 5

1st Period-
No Scoring.

Penalties-Kornelsen Cal (closing hand on puck), 1:40; Traber Vic (checking from behind), 4:27; Zgraggen Vic (delay of game), 5:08; Nelson Vic (ob-tripping), 11:26; Hodges Vic (roughing), 18:02; Calladine Cal (roughing), 18:02.

2nd Period-
1, Calgary, Padakin 3 (Henry), 1:15.
2, Victoria, Stahl 1 (Gogolev), 13:14 (PP).
3, Calgary, Peterson 1 (Roach), 19:52.

Penalties-Traber Vic (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 2:14; Roach Cal (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 2:14; Magee Vic (roughing), 9:45; Chase Cal (slashing), 12:30; Kosterman Cal (hooking), 13:28; Kanzig Vic (major-fighting), 19:22; Rissling Cal (major-fighting), 19:22.

3rd Period-
4, Calgary, Brassart 7 (Hurley, Humphries), 2:40.
5, Calgary, Roach 3 (Humphries, Brassart), 6:27 (PP).
6, Calgary, Roach 4 (Brassart, Peterson), 12:43 (PP).
7, Victoria, Hodges 5 (Fisher), 19:58 (SH).

Penalties-Fisher Vic (checking from behind), 5:58; Traber Vic (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 6:27; Padakin Cal (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 6:27; Kosterman Cal (tripping), 7:56; Cote Vic (roughing), 11:03; Hicketts Vic (roughing), 11:54; Stahl Vic (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 11:54; Samoridny Cal (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 11:54; Traber Vic (10-minute misconduct), 12:43; Fransoo Vic (roughing), 15:58; Virtanen Cal (roughing), 15:58; Calladine Cal (roughing), 16:10; Fransoo Vic (roughing), 17:58; Virtanen Cal (roughing), 17:58; Stahl Vic (roughing), 18:02; Carroll Vic (major-fighting), 18:54; Henry Cal (major-fighting), 18:54.

Shots on Goal-
Victoria 8-10-11-29.
Calgary 11-6-9-26.

Power Play Opportunities-
Victoria 1 / 5;
Calgary 2 / 8.

Goalies-
Victoria, Vollrath 1-2-0-0 (26 shots-21 saves).
Calgary, Driedger 9-3-1-1 (29 shots-27 saves).

A-8,179
Referees-Mike Campbell (89), Fraser Lawrence (10).
Linesmen-Reid Anderson (53), Scott Sharun (103).