Recap: VIC 5 - MH 3

Logan Nelson scored 3 times to lead the visiting Victoria Royals (10-10, 20 pts) past the Medicine Hat Tigers (11-10-1-0, 23pts) 5-3 Saturday night.

Logan Nelson celebrates a Hat Trick with his teammates.

“I think tonight shows you’re only as good as the players around you, as all four lines were going.  It’s a huge confidence booster for us and it’s good to go home with at least one win.”  said Logan Nelson, the games first star.

The Royals snap a 6 game slide, wrapping up 7 consecutive on the road.  The Tigers who had won 6 of 8 coming in, had their 2 game win streak ended.

“We really were skating tonight, and that’s probably the best game from start to finish.”  said Head Coach Dave Lowry.  “It was really encouraging to see that when we play a certain way, the offense that we can generate, and the results that come with it.”

Victoria takes both games in the season series, after winning 4-3 in overtime at home on October 3rd.

The Royals line up for a faceoff against the Tigers

Royals netminder Patrik Polivka improves to a 7-5 record with a 29 save performance, while Cam Lanigan suffered only his 3rd loss in 12 games for the Tigers, blocking 27.

Victoria held 1-0 and 2-1 period leads as Nelson scored on a breakaway in the first, and Brandon Fushimi scoring his first WHL goal to regain the lead before heading into the third.

Alex Gogolev looks to make a pass on the power play.

Jamie Crooks scored his 7th of the season to give the Royals their first two goal lead of the game in the third.  The two clubs went back and forth exchanging goals, with Nelson providing the final two for Victoria.

Nelson scored twice on three breakaways, while adding one with the man advantage.

Tigers F Elgin Pearce had a goal and two assists, while F Hunter Shinkaruk had a goal and assist, and F Curtis Valk had two helpers to extend his point streak to 12 games.  The line combined for 7 points.

The Royals had to rely on their depth as they started the game without three 19 year olds, F Tim Traber, F Ben Walker and D Jesse Zgraggen, all out due to injury.  Lowry comments on the depth coming through,

“I thought our kids were great – babtism by fire.  Jack (Walker) went in and played the back, (Ryan) Gagnon came up and played forward tonight, and they were really solid for us and obviously you miss your veteran players.  It gave them an opportunity and they really came in and took advantage of it.”

Victoria went 1 for 2 on the power play, while Medicine Hat relied on their 4 man advantages for their offense, scoring twice.

The Royals return home after 11 days on the road, playing 5 games in 9 nights.  They wrap up 7 consecutive on the road in the longest span of days between home games with 23, and a total of 4648 km travelled. 

Nelson gives his overall thoughts on the trip.  “It’s good to see some snow, but I think we would’ve liked to have a few more wins.  Sometimes you don’t get all the bounces you want, and you have keep on plugging away.”

Victoria kicks off a 6 game home stand next Friday against the Everett Silvertips in their first meeting of the season.

-mm

Pregame Ceremony in Medicine Hat

Victoria Royals 5 at Medicine Hat Tigers 3 - Status: Final
Saturday, November 10, 2012 - Medicine Hat Arena

Victoria 1 1 3 - 5
Medicine Hat 0 1 2 - 3

1st Period-
1, Victoria, Nelson 4 (Fransoo), 18:06.

Penalties-Stahl Vic (checking to the head), 10:32; Hodges Vic (holding), 13:29; Lewington M.h (cross checking), 18:16.

2nd Period-
2, Medicine Hat, Pearce 8 (Valk, Shinkaruk), 6:10 (PP).
3, Victoria, Fushimi 1 (Fisher), 17:49.

Penalties-Gogolev Vic (interference), 5:31.

3rd Period-
4, Victoria, Crooks 7 (Magee, Harrison), 5:48.
5, Medicine Hat, Koules 6 (Pearce, Valk), 8:02 (PP).
6, Victoria, Nelson 5 (Hicketts), 9:11.
7, Medicine Hat, Shinkaruk 15 (Pearce), 13:09.
8, Victoria, Nelson 6 (Cote, Gogolev), 16:23 (PP).

Penalties-Gogolev Vic (tripping), 6:26; Valk M.h (slashing), 14:39; Nelson Vic (roughing), 18:50; Leier M.h (roughing), 18:50.

Shots on Goal-
Victoria 12-7-13-32.
Medicine Hat 12-6-14-32.

Power Play Opportunities-
Victoria 1 / 2;
Medicine Hat 2 / 4.

Goalies-
Victoria, Polivka 7-5-0-0 (32 shots-29 saves).
Medicine Hat, Lanigan 9-3-0-0 (32 shots-27 saves).

A-4,006
Referees-Brett Montsion (54), Kevin Webinger (6).
Linesmen-Sean Donnelly (109), Matthew Sanders (70).