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| Austin Carroll scored the Teddy Bear Toss goal Saturday |
The Royals won 4-2 one night earlier and will face the Giants for a third straight game Tuesday night in Vancouver.
“I think we lost the special teams game and we gave up that goal early in the second period and never really recovered.” – Head Coach Dave Lowry
The Giants scored 5 goals in the second, part of 6 straight to erase a 2-0 first period deficit, spoiling the Royals Teddy Bear Toss night.
Austin Carroll scored the Teddy goal, for a second straight year, and Steven Hodges followed it up with his 2nd of the year to give the home team a 2-0 first period lead.
Former Royal Trent Lofthouse kicked off a 3 point night with a late first period power play goal to cut the lead in half.
“After the two goals we really let off the gas pedal and haven’t had the killer instinct we’ve been having as of late.” - Royals Forward Steven Hodges.In the second the Giants poured it on with 5 straight, 4 even strength on one on the power play, outshooting the home team 16-5.
“We lost our energy, our emotional composure, and when that happens we’re not a very efficient team.” Said Lowry
Victoria responded in the third with a pair of goals by Ben Walker and Hodges second of the night to get within two, before Vancouver scored another power play goal in the final minute.
Ben Walker had a goal and assist, while Steven Hodges had a pair of goals. Carter Popoff had a 4 point night for the visitors (1g 3a), while Trent Lofthouse picked up 3 points (1g 2a).The Giants went 3 for 6 with the man advantage, while the Royals struck once on four opportunitites.
Vancouver outshot Victoria 43-33 overall.
Patrik Polivka was replaced after allowing 4 goals on 26 shots in the middle frame, and Coleman Vollrath allowed 3 on 17 shots in relief. Payton Lee earned his 9th win of the year with 29 saves.
The Royals kick off their 5 game road trip against the Giants Tuesday, followed by games against the Broncos, Tigers, Hurricanes and Oil Kings before the Christmas break.
- Marlon Martens
Vancouver Giants 7 at Victoria Royals 4 - Status: Final
Saturday, December 7, 2013 - Save-On-Foods Memorial Arena - Victoria, BC
Vancouver 1 5 1 - 7
Victoria 2 0 2 - 4
1st Period-
1, Victoria, Carroll 15 (Nelson, Walker), 3:51.
2, Victoria, Hodges 2 (Blomqvist, Kohlhauser), 14:47.
3, Vancouver, Lofthouse 5 (Franson, Kulak), 17:54 (PP).
Penalties-Fisher Vic (hooking), 4:01; Nelson Vic (inter. on goaltender), 16:13; Hamilton Van (tripping), 18:15.
2nd Period-
4, Vancouver, Foster 2 (Lofthouse), 1:37.
5, Vancouver, Geertsen 1 (Popoff), 4:49.
6, Vancouver, Dosanjh 1 (Foster, Leone), 9:34.
7, Vancouver, Popoff 8 (Atwal, Franson), 12:43.
8, Vancouver, Thrower 10 (Popoff, Lofthouse), 18:06 (PP).
Penalties-Atwal Van (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 6:28; Skapski Vic (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 6:28; Atwal Van (interference), 10:36; Kanzig Vic (cross checking), 13:29; Gagnon Vic (slashing), 15:15; Magee Vic (slashing), 17:06; Orban Van (10-minute misconduct), 20:00; Crunk Vic (10-minute misconduct), 20:00.
3rd Period-
9, Victoria, Walker 10 (Magee), 5:32 (PP).
10, Victoria, Hodges 3 14:02.
11, Vancouver, Franson 13 (Popoff), 19:53 (PP).
Penalties-Thrower Van (slashing), 0:37; Thrower Van (hooking), 4:14; served by Palmer Vic (too many men), 19:17.
Shots on Goal-
Vancouver 20-16-7-43.
Victoria 16-5-12-33.
Power Play Opportunities-
Vancouver 3 / 6; Victoria 1 / 4.
Goalies-
Vancouver, Lee 9-9-3-1 (33 shots-29 saves).
Victoria, Polivka 14-9-0-0 (26 shots-22 saves); Vollrath 6-3-0-1 (17 shots-14 saves).
A-5,019
Referees-Ryan Benbow (62), Adam Griffiths (36).
Linesmen-Riley Friesen (76), Kirk Van Helvoirt (107).
