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| Williams preserves the 3-2 lead with a game saver off Jamie Crooks |
Eric Williams made 37 saves to backstop the visiting Spokane Chiefs to a 3-2 victory over the Victoria Royals Saturday night.
The Royals pick up a single point in the two game home set after a 4-3 overtime loss the night before.
“We just have to continue to keep working, eventually if you stay with it, we get healthy…when you have two natural centerman in the line up, it puts guys in tough spots. I thought our guys for being short, played hard.” Dave Lowry, Royals Head Coach
The game was tied at 1 after 20 minutes before the Chiefs scored :26 seconds apart in the middle frame to take a two goal lead. The third goal by Gal was fired off the end glass, and hit netminder Patrik Polivka in the back before bouncing in.
Polivka was asked if that have ever happened to him before,
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| #19 Logan Nelson had 2 assists, now 7 pts in his last 3 games. |
Ben Walker brought the club to within one before the 2nd was out. In the third, the Royals outshot the Chiefs 16-9 with the best chance to tie coming off Jamie Crooks stick late, but Williams shut the door.
Victoria outshot Spokane 39-29 overall, and held the Chiefs to just one power play opportunity, while going 1 for 5 on their power play.
“Usually when you have 39 shots on goal, and you only take 1 penalty…just couldn’t get it done. Too little too late, we had a bad second period and didn’t have a big enough push and it cost us.” Ben Cooper, Royals Assistant Coach
The Walker brothers Ben and Jack each had a goal and an assist, while Logan Nelson’s two helpers gives him 7 points in his last 3 games (4g 3a). All three hail from Minnesota.
“It’s always fun playing with guys from back home, especially one being my brother…I thought we worked well together, moved the puck well and it was fun playing with them.” - Ben Walker, Royals Forward.
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| Brandon Magee vs Eric Williams |
Alessio Bertaggia and Todd Fiddler rounded out the scoring for the Chiefs.
The Royals wrapped up their 5 game homestand taking a single point, (0-4-1-0) and drop the season series to the Chiefs with a record of (1-2-1-0).
“Not to make excuses, but we’ve got 5 forward out…5 pretty big physical players which is a pretty big part of our identity…so we’re missing that and it changes the whole dynamic of our team, so we need guys to step up and we’re probably not getting that from everyone.” Cooper said.
Victoria remains 6th in the West, now 9 points back of 5th place Tri City and 10 back of Spokane.
The Royals who are now winless in 9 (0-7-1-1), head out on a two game road trip to face the Kamloops Blazers Tuesday, a potential first round match up, and then into Kelowna Wednesday.
“Every game here is a tough game, let’s get real here…Positive’s going through, we get excited to play Kamloops, maybe that’s a positive, maybe that’s what we need. Look at our schedule, the games don’t get any easier…” Lowry said.
- Marlon Martens
Spokane Chiefs 3 at Victoria Royals 2 - Status: Final
Saturday, March 2, 2013 - Save-On-Foods Memorial Arena - Victoria, BC
Spokane 1 2 0 - 3
Victoria 1 1 0 - 2
1st Period-
1, Spokane, Bertaggia 22 (Aviani, Holmberg), 10:11 (PP).
2, Victoria, Walker 6 (Nelson, Walker), 17:52.
Penalties-Proft Spo (major-fighting), 5:21; Traber Vic (major-fighting), 5:21; Walker Vic (roughing), 9:01; served by Cardiff Spo (too many men), 15:48; Aviani Spo (checking from behind), 18:30.
2nd Period-
3, Spokane, Fiddler 41 (Walchuk), 4:43.
4, Spokane, Gal 13 (Fram, Coyle), 5:09.
5, Victoria, Walker 18 (Nelson, Walker), 11:40 (PP).
Penalties-Coyle Spo (tripping), 9:53.
3rd Period-
No Scoring.
Penalties-Fiddler Spo (cross checking), 5:27; Aviani Spo (checking to the head), 9:17.
Shots on Goal-
Spokane 9-11-9-29.
Victoria 9-14-16-39.
Power Play Opportunities-
Spokane 1 / 1;
Victoria 1 / 5.
Goalies-
Spokane, Williams 29-18-2-0 (39 shots-37 saves).
Victoria, Polivka 28-15-2-3 (29 shots-26 saves).
A-5,213
Referees-Matt Kirk (4), Pat Smith (12).
Linesmen-Justin Hull (49), Nathan Van Oosten (115).
