Recap: Victoria 1 - Vancouver 3

Jackson Houck scored twice to lead the Vancouver Giants to a 3-1 victory over the visiting Victoria Royals Saturday.

Ben Walker reaches for a puck.

“We got off to a good start, but it didn’t end so well because they out played us, had more shots than us and worked harder than us.”  - Brandon Fushimi, Royals Forward

The loss locks Victoria into 6th spot in the West, and will now face the 3rd place Kamloops Blazers in the post season, the team that swept the Royals in the first round last year.

Brandon Magee fires a shot

The Giants who won their 4th straight on home ice will not make the post season.

Jamie Crooks (33rd) scored just :34 seconds into the opening frame, before Carter Popoff tied it before the game was 4 minutes old.

Houck broke a 1-1 third period tie, and then added the insurance marker into an empty net in the final minute.  Brett Kulak chipped in with a pair of helpers.

Coleman Vollrath was valiant in a 37 save performance, as the Royals went 1 for 1 on the power play, and did not allow the Giants a single man advantage.

Action around Royals net

“The best penalty kill is not to take penalties…they told us you need to only take 2 or 3 penalties a night and we did that…” Fushimi said, “…that way we didn’t have our top guys out there on the penalty kill and having to block shots…” 

For the contest being their 10th meeting of the season, only 16 minutes in penalties were called.  The Royals take the season series 7 games to 3.

Victoria welcomed back Logan Fisher to the line up from injury, and Keegan Kanzig from a 2 game suspension.  The Royals were still without 4 players due to injury (Gogolev, Lofthouse, Stahl, and Harrison) and 1 to suspension (Traber served 3rd of 6).

With one more win, Victoria can set the franchise mark for victories in a season with 34.  With one more point, the club can tie the franchise mark for points in a season with 74.

Kanzig stands his ground

Up next the Royals wrap up 3 in 3 nights, and 5 and 6 nights, with a 5pm start against the visiting Portland Winterhawks Sunday.

Fushimi reflects on the past 6-2 losses at Portland earlier this season,

“They have some very skilled, fast guys…they don’t like to hit too much.  That’s what we have to take advantage of, we have to hit them and get pucks to the net.”

Pregame show a 4:40 on The Zone at 91.3 fm or online at www.thezone.fm/listen


Victoria Royals 1 at Vancouver Giants 3 - Status: Final
Saturday, March 9, 2013 - Pacific Coliseum - Vancouver, BC

Victoria 1 0 0 - 1
Vancouver 1 0 2 - 3

1st Period-
1, Victoria, Crooks 33 (Fransoo, Hodges), 0:34 (PP).
2, Vancouver, Popoff 14 (Kulak), 3:53.

Penalties-Kieser Van (charging), 0:29; Fransoo Vic (major-fighting), 3:08; Cooke Van (major-fighting), 3:08.

2nd Period-
No Scoring.

Penalties-Kanzig Vic (roughing), 8:44; Vannieuwenhuizen Van (roughing), 8:44.

3rd Period-
3, Vancouver, Houck 21 (Kulak, Rouse), 8:20.
4, Vancouver, Houck 22   19:42 (EN).

Penalties-No Penalties

Shots on Goal-
Victoria 8-7-5-20.
Vancouver 10-14-16-40.

Power Play Opportunities-
Victoria 1 / 1;
Vancouver 0 / 0.

Goalies-
Victoria, Vollrath 3-10-0-2 (39 shots-37 saves).
Vancouver, Lee 13-19-1-0 (20 shots-19 saves).

A-6,184
Referees-Tyler Adair (58), Curtis Marouelli (86).
Linesmen-Jacob Hill (122), Chris Sweeting (137).