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| Virtanen would hit the post on a breakaway in a 3-1 Hitmen win |
Cody Sylvester scored twice on the power play to lead the Calgary Hitmen (38-17-1-3, 80pts) to a 3-1 victory over the visiting Victoria Royals (32-21-1-4, 69pts) Saturday night.“We couldn’t score on the power play and offensively we were a bit flat, it wasn’t our night tonight…” Enio Sacilotto, Royals Assistant Coach
The Royals played game 5 of a 6 game road trip, in the middle of 3 in 3, and fall to 2-2-0-1 on the trek which wraps up in Edmonton Sunday afternoon at 3pm PST.
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| Logan Nelson vs Victor Rask |
“Not to use excuses, but maybe the travel is a little tough on them, we’ve been away for 10 days now, maybe it’s catching up with them, maybe a little fatigue…”
Victoria out shot Calgary 32 – 25 but the Hitmen went 2 for 6 with the man advantage while the Royals 4th best power play scored once on eight opportunities. Sacilotto felt it played a big role in the outcome,
“The deeper we get nto the season and into the playoffs, special teams become very important…with all those power play opportunities – yes, definitely special teams was the difference tonight for sure.”
Sacilotto also credited the Hitmen who came off 9 straight on the road,
“They’re an excellent hockey team and they came out really hard…we have a couple ex-Royals on their team in Jesse Zgraggen and Zane Jones and think they got their team charged up against us to play against us – it was a long night.”
In the second Keegan Kanzig won a spirited tilt against Jaynen Rissling, Kanzig talks about where the club fell short,
“We weren’t playing like it was playoff hockey, not with enough emotion and our execution wasn’t there. We have to refocus and get ready for Edmonton…if we turn things around and play how we can, we can beat them.”
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| Coleman Vollrath and Michael Herringer |
The Hitmen take the season series 2 games to 1, with the home team earning their respective victories.
Victoria is now 6th in the West, tied in points with 5th place Tri City who have one more win. Both are 1 back of Spokane after Saturday’s games.
The Royals’ next home game is Friday, February 22nd when the Kelowna Rockets come for a pair. The Saturday contest will feature the Royals wearing new Military Jersey’s in a tribute to our troops. All personnel with military ID, get a ticket discount.
- by Marlon Martens
Victoria Royals 1 at Calgary Hitmen 3 - Status: Final
Saturday, February 16, 2013 - Scotiabank Saddledome - Calgary, AB
Victoria 0 0 1 - 1
Calgary 1 1 1 - 3
1st Period-
1, Calgary, Sylvester 32 (Macek, Rask), 14:59 (PP).
Penalties-Clayton Cal (checking to the head), 2:56; Rissling Cal (elbowing), 10:05; Walker Vic (hooking), 13:39; Hicketts Vic (checking from behind), 14:49; Virtanen Cal (holding), 16:52.
2nd Period-
2, Calgary, Brassart 24 (Chase), 10:24.
Penalties-Kanzig Vic (slashing), 1:23; Kanzig Vic (major-fighting), 7:27; Rissling Cal (major-fighting), 7:27; Zgraggen Cal (tripping), 11:36; Gagnon Vic (inter. on goaltender), 15:38.
3rd Period-
3, Calgary, Sylvester 33 (Jones, Helgesen), 9:59 (PP).
4, Victoria, Hodges 24 (Magee, Crooks), 17:25 (PP).
Penalties-Chase Cal (holding), 0:57; Deacon Vic (tripping), 4:33; Fisher Vic (checking from behind), 8:33; Brassart Cal (high sticking, high sticking), 14:32; Humphries Cal (delay of game), 16:44.
Shots on Goal-
Victoria 9-10-13-32.
Calgary 9-10-6-25.
Power Play Opportunities-
Victoria 1 / 8;
Calgary 2 / 6.
Goalies-
Victoria, Vollrath 2-7-0-1 (25 shots-22 saves).
Calgary, Driedger 29-13-1-2 (32 shots-31 saves).
A-11,362
Referees-Patrick Gagnon (71), Fraser Lawrence (10).
Linesmen-Darren Spurgeon (61), Ian Shaver (74).
