Recap: VIC 3 - PORT 2 OT

Brandon Magee celebrates his overtime winning goal for the Royals

Brandon Magee scored the overtime winner to lead the visiting Victoria Royals to a 3-2 victory over the league leading Portland Winterhawks Saturday night.

Video highlights here: bit.ly/1cMqttY
and http://www.sendtonews.com/index.php?id=211&SK=5foECO8qwp

Logan Nelson attacks

Coleman Vollrath made 41 saves for his second consecutive victory, after making 43 stops one night earlier in a 5-3 win at Seattle, giving the Royals the sweep on their 2 game US road swing.

“We got exceptional goaltending, the power play scored early and gave us an opportunity.  The guys played really hard, it was a carry over from last night in Seattle.” - Head Coach Dave Lowry.

Magee notched his second of the night and 4th in two games, as Victoria earned their first win in Portland since moving to the Island.

“We knew he was a streaky scorer, and we knew it was only a matter of time before he’d score again.” said Lowry about Magee, “We’ve missed his offense, but this weekend was a real good time to find it.”

Magee scores in overtime, beating Burke high blocker

Austin Carroll opened the scoring a mere 25 seconds into the first, but Taylor Leir tied up the game 2 minutes later, before Magee buried his first of the night just over 6 minutes in. 

Bjorkstrand readies for a one timer

There would be no more scoring until the third when Oliver Bjorkstrand tied the game at 2 with less than 6 minutes to go.

Victoria improves to 6-3 on the road, while handing Portland just their 3rd home loss of the season.  The Royals leap past the Thunderbirds for 6th in the West by a single point, and are now 7 points up on the Giants and Cougars.

Vollrath improves to 4-1-0-1 on the season while sporting the leagues top save percentage (0.939) and 3rd best goals against average (2.21). 

 “He did a great job of making that first save.  His rebound control was good.” Commented Lowry about his netminder,  “When we did have breakdowns we was the last layer and he was able to make some saves.”

Brendan Burke who leads the league in wins with 13, suffered his 4th regulation loss allowing 3 goals on 36 shots.

Hodges gets ready for a faceoff, with Magee (2 goals) on his left

The Royals power play was 1 for 3, as their road best penalty kill was a perfect 4 for 4.

Victoria was without 3 defenseman.  Keegan Kanzig and Jordan Fransoo are day to day, and Joe Hicketts out indefinitely.  Jack Walker did not play (ill).

Brett Cote blocks one of many Portland shots

“We were missing key guys on the back end, but the guys that came in, and 5 guys that played did an exceptional job…and Brett Cote, the minutes he logged - it was a great team win for us.”

Wearing the ‘C’ in Fransoo’s absence was centerman Logan Fisher for a second straight game. 

“Just look at the type of player he is and how hard he competes every night.  From the start of the year he’s taken some great strides and he’s very deserving of it.”

It was the first meeting of the season between Victoria and Portland, and will meet 3 times in a row beginning at the Moda Center on January 4th.

The Royals now return home and await the Thunderbirds for a pair Friday and Saturday.

-Marlon Martens

Victoria Royals 3 (OT) at Portland Winterhawks 2 - Status: Final OT
Saturday, November 9, 2013 - Moda Center - Portland, OR

Victoria 2 0 0 1 - 3
Portland 1 0 1 0 - 2

1st Period-
1, Victoria, Carroll 9   0:25.
2, Portland, Leier 13 (De Leo, Pouliot), 2:01.
3, Victoria, Magee 4 (Reddekopp, Palmer), 6:12 (PP).

Penalties-Bittner Por (tripping), 4:33; Carroll Vic (embellishment), 15:42.

2nd Period-
No Scoring.

Penalties-Kohlhauser Vic (tripping), 17:48.

3rd Period-
4, Portland, Bjorkstrand 16 (Leipsic, Pouliot), 14:14.

Penalties-Hodges Vic (roughing), 1:54; Leier Por (inter. on goaltender), 2:04; Soy Vic (delay of game), 8:26; Petan Por (hooking), 16:44.

OT Period-
5, Victoria, Magee 5 (Hodges), 0:31.

Penalties-No Penalties

Shots on Goal-
Victoria 11-12-12-1-36.
Portland 13-14-16-0-43.

Power Play Opportunities-
Victoria 1 / 3;
Portland 0 / 4.

Goalies-
Victoria, Vollrath 4-1-0-1 (43 shots-41 saves).
Portland, Burke 13-3-1-1 (36 shots-33 saves).

A-9,097
Referees-Steve Papp (17).
Linesmen-Tim Digby (75), Jacob Hill (122).

Vollrath keeps on eye on the Portland skater