Coleman Vollrath made 41 saves to lead the visiting Victoria Royals (9-6) past the Spokane Chiefs 4-1 Saturday night.
The Chiefs (10-3) who are ranked 3rd in the CHL, and have the most points in the WHL (20) had their 4 game win streak snapped by the Royals as well as suffering their first home loss of the season (4-1) in front of 8,055 fans.
Victoria earns the split on their two game US road swing after falling 4-1 at Tri City the night before.
The Royals never trailed, leading 1-0 after the first on Tyler Soy’s 2nd of the season, and 2-1 after 40 with a last minute power play goal by Ben Walker. Brandon Fushimi added some breathing room with a breakaway goal in the third, before Logan Fisher scored into an empty net.
Mike Aviani scored the lone goal for the Chiefs, with the league’s point leader Mitch Holmberg drawing an assist and extending his point streak to 13 games.
In his first start since October 1st Vollrath made several sensational stops, improving to 2-1 on the year. Garrett Hughson allowed 3 goals on 27 shots.
Austin Carroll chipped in with 2 helpers, while Logan Nelson extended his point streak to 8 games (7g 6a) with an assist. Ben Walker has 5 points over his last 3 outings (1g 4a).
Victoria’s power play went 1 for 6, now scoring a goal with the man advantage in 8 straight games (11 for 40, 27.5%). Their 2nd best penalty kill was perfect in the two games, only allowing 3 man advantages total.
The Royals are now 1-2 against the Chiefs after a pair of losses on the Island in September, and will meet one final time on the road January 3rd.
Victoria has played the most games in the WHL with 15, and embrace 5 days in between games before opening a 5 game homestand with a pair against Kelowna next Friday and Saturday.
-Marlon Martens
Victoria Royals 4 at Spokane Chiefs 1 - Status: End of Game
Saturday, October 19, 2013 - Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena
Victoria 1 1 2 - 4
Spokane 0 1 0 - 1
1st Period-
1, Victoria, Soy 2 (Nelson, Carroll), 7:04.
Penalties-Aviani Spo (high sticking), 13:11; Whittingham Spo (tripping), 16:20; Holmberg Spo (tripping), 17:47.
2nd Period-
2, Spokane, Aviani 12 (Holmberg, Yamamoto), 15:28.
3, Victoria, Walker 3 (Carroll, Cote), 19:35 (PP).
Penalties-Walker Vic (tripping), 8:18; Carroll Vic (slashing), 16:17; King Spo (high sticking, high sticking), 16:17; Aviani Spo (slashing), 18:24.
3rd Period-
4, Victoria, Fushimi 6 14:22.
5, Victoria, Fisher 1 19:40 (EN).
Penalties-Bobyk Spo (elbowing), 2:01; Fransoo Vic (delay of game), 5:29.
Shots on Goal-
Victoria 10-12-6-28.
Spokane 12-19-11-42.
Power Play Opportunities-
Victoria 1 / 6;
Spokane 0 / 2.
Goalies-
Victoria, Vollrath 2-1-0-0 (42 shots-41 saves).
Spokane, Hughson 2-2-0-0 (27 shots-24 saves).
A-8,055
Referees-Colin Watt (72), Derek Zalaski (8).
Linesmen-Anthony Guzzo (135), Jeremi Del Campo (44).
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