Recap: Victoria 4 - Everett 7

Trent Lofthouse scored against his former club in his first visit back to Everett, but the Silvertips (17-24-0-2, 36pts) would spoil the home coming dropping the Victoria Royals (20-17-1-2, 43pts) 7-4 Friday night.

“We let a couple empty net goals go in…It was a well fought battle by both teams, I thought it was pretty wide open hockey, it was entertaing for (the fans), the teams traded chances – it was a good effort all around.” – Enio Sacilotto, Royals Assistant Coach


Everett’s GM Garry Davidson won his first game behind the bench as interim head coach.

It was a seesaw battle, with Victoria overcoming an early 2-0 deficit to take a 3-2 lead into the first intermission.  Everett would score 3 times in the 2nd to take a 5-3 lead into the final frame.  The Royals would bring the score to within one, but the Silvertips would add a pair of empty net goals to put the game out of reach.


“We had a little tough luck around the net…” commented Sacilotto on the missed opportunities in the 3rd, as Alex Gogolev missed an open net, and Jamie Crooks hit the crossboar.

Victoria got goals from Tim Traber, a highlight reel goal by Lofthouse splitting the defense and dekeing Lotz, Brett Cote (1g 1a) and Austin Carroll in the 3rd.

“A great goal, a highlight reel goal for sure, coming back against his old team, his parents where here from Surrey, it was a pretty exciting evening for him to score that big goal.” Said Sacilotto

Everett’s Ryan Harrison (2g 1a) had both empty net goals while Tyler Sandhu also collected 3 points, all assists.  Rounding out the scoring was Kohl Bauml (1g 1a), Connor Cox (1g 1a), Stathis Soumelidis, Cole MacDonalds, and Joshua Winquist.  Ty Mappin had 2 assists.

It was their 2nd of 4 meetings, with the season series tied at a game a piece.  They’ll meet again for the final two games of the regular season in a home and home March 15th and 16th.

The Royals were without Captain Tyler Stahl (Upper), Logan Nelson (Lower, 3-5 weeks), Ben Walker (Upper, 1-2 weeks) and Luke Harrison (Upper, indefinite).  D Ryan Gagnon made his return to the line up after coming back from the U-17.

“We had a pretty youthful defense core dressed tonight, it’s a learning process and they have to get experience…sometimes they have to learn through mistakes, but I thought Gagnon represented himself well tonight.”  Said Sacilotto

Both netminders where called upon to make numerous big time stops, Austin Lotz winning his 9th of the season with 28 saves.  Patrik Polivka was valiant while suffering his 10th defeat with 26 saves.

The Royals went 1 for 4 on the power play, while the Silvertips scored twice on three man advantages.

“Much improved power play, it looked a lot better tonight, we finally scored on it…we’ll keep working at it.”  said Sacilotto after the Royals were shut out with the man advantage in their 4 previous outings.

There were two fights in the first period, Keegan Kanzig edging Soumelidis, and Austin Carroll besting Ben Betker.

Victoria wraps up a 3 game road trip in Seattle Saturday night before returning home for a pair against the Kamloops Blazers Tuesday and Wednesday.

-mm



Victoria Royals 4 at Everett Silvertips 7 - Status: Final
Friday, January 11, 2013 - Comcast Arena - Everett, WA

Victoria 3 0 1 - 4
Everett 2 3 2 - 7

1st Period-
1, Everett, Cox 1 (Sandhu, Mappin), 6:25 (PP).
2, Everett, Soumelidis 3 (Sandhu), 12:58.
3, Victoria, Traber 3 (Cote, Gogolev), 14:10 (PP).
4, Victoria, Lofthouse 11 (Deacon), 18:00.
5, Victoria, Cote 7 (Magee, Fisher), 19:08.

Penalties-Betker Evt (roughing), 1:39; Kanzig Vic (major-fighting), 4:39; Soumelidis Evt (major-fighting), 4:39; Crunk Vic (roughing), 5:25; Carroll Vic (major-fighting), 11:31; Betker Evt (major-fighting), 11:31; Mappin Evt (holding opp. stick), 13:25.

2nd Period-
6, Everett, Bauml 13 (Petryk, Harrison), 1:51.
7, Everett, MacDonald 2 (Cox), 3:28.
8, Everett, Winquist 17 (Sandhu, Mappin), 19:54 (PP).

Penalties-Harrison Evt (boarding), 8:10; Hayer Evt (hooking), 12:12; Carroll Vic (cross checking, roughing), 19:36; Harrison Evt (roughing), 19:36.

3rd Period-
9, Victoria, Carroll 8   16:01.
10, Everett, Harrison 5   18:27 (EN).
11, Everett, Harrison 6 (Bauml), 19:13 (EN).

Penalties-Carroll Vic (high sticking), 6:34.

Shots on Goal-
Victoria 13-10-9-32.
Everett 14-9-10-33.

Power Play Opportunities-
Victoria 1 / 4;
Everett 2 / 3.

Goalies-
Victoria, Polivka 16-10-1-2 (31 shots-26 saves).
Everett, Lotz 9-13-0-1 (32 shots-28 saves).

A-4,567
Referees-Kevin Bennett (29), Adam Griffiths (36).
Linesmen-Nick Bilko (66), Justin Hull (49).