Recap: VAN 5 - VIC 4 Shoot Out

Patrik Polivka robs Sward short handed, but scored moments later in a 5-4 shoot out loss to the Giants

Logan Nelson scored twice, including the tying goal in the third, but the Victoria Royals (33-16-0-3, 69pts) fell 5-4 in a shoot out to the visiting Vancouver Giants (26-18-5-3, 60pts) Friday night.

Nelson stopped in shoot out

The Giants take a 4-3 series lead, and will meet again Saturday night on the Island wrapping up three straight for the Royals against their BC Division rivals.  Victoria won 3-1 last Saturday in Vancouver.

The Royals held period leads of 1-0 and 3-2 as the Giants came back to even the score after each Victoria goal until the final frame where they scored twice to take a short lived lead. 

The loss ended the Royals perfect record of 25-0 when leading after 40, and snapped their 3 game winning streak (3-0-0-1).  The Giants beat the Blazers Wednesday and now have won back to back games.

Victoria picks up a single point, but finds themselves tied with Seattle for 3rd in the West, while Vancouver leap frops Everett for 6th after the Thunderbirds beat the Silvertips 2-1.  Seattle is 9-1 in their past 10 games. 

Play in Vancouver's end

The Royals got going early, just over two minutes in as Steven Hodges tapped in his 13th of the year after a pretty passing play from linemates Axel Blomqvist and Brandon Magee who all ended with two point nights.

Dalton Sward scored his 6th shorthanded goal to even the game at 1 in the second, before Brandon Magee added his 19th of the year on the power play to restore the lead.  Vancouver would tie it up again courtesey of Cain Franson after stealing the puck in front of Victoria’s net. 

Logan Nelson ripped a shot top corner glove side on Payton Lee to restore the lead once again 3-2 heading into the third, where the Royals are unbeaten when leading after 40 minutes.

Just 95 seconds into the third, Giants Thomas Foster evened the score at 3 with a rising shot over the glove of Polivka.  Former Royal Tim Traber followed up his own rebound to put Vancouver on top for the first time in the game 4-3.  90 seconds later, Logan Nelson accepted a pass from Hicketts and scored with a low shot coming down the right wing to force overtime, which solved nothing.

Polivka stops Kulak in shoot out

In the shoot out Franson scored on the Giants first attempt and Kulak stopped on their second by Polivka.  Nelson, Jack and his brother Ben Walker where all stopped by Vancouvers’ Payton Lee, for the 5-4 shoot out victory.

The contest saw only three power plays, Victoria went 1 for 2 while allowing a short handed goal, and stopped the lone man advantage for the opposition.

Lee earned his 15th win of the season with 28 saves, while Polivka falls to (20-11-0-2), stopping 26 of 30 in 65 minutes of play.

Five Royals had two point nights, Brandon Magee (19th) and Steven Hodges (13th)  had a goal and assist each as the line with Axel Blomqvist (2a) combined for 6 points.  Logan Nelson had his 14th and 15th of the season, while defenseman Joe Hicketts in his return after missing 34 straight games assisted on both Nelson goals.

Logan Nelson scores his 2nd of the night to even the score at 4.  Photo Credit: Larry Quigley

Thomas Foster was the number star for the Giants with a goal and assist, and Joe Hamilton chipped in with a pair of helpers.

Victoria wraps up the month of January with a franchise best 7-3-0-1 record.

Saturday night is the annual Pink in the Rink night against Vancouver, followed by a pair of games Tuesday and Wednesday against Calgary to wrap up their 4 game homestand.

The Royals only have 7 home games of the 20 remaining regular season contests left.

- Marlon Martens

Vancouver Giants 5 (SO) at Victoria Royals 4 - Status: Final SO
Friday, January 31, 2014 - Save-On-Foods Memorial Arena - Victoria, BC

Vancouver 0 2 2 0 - 5
Victoria 1 2 1 0 - 4

1st Period-
1, Victoria, Hodges 13 (Magee, Blomqvist), 2:17.

Penalties-No Penalties

2nd Period-
2, Vancouver, Sward 16 (Foster, Kulak), 8:00 (SH).
3, Victoria, Magee 19 (Hodges, Blomqvist), 11:57 (PP).
4, Vancouver, Franson 19   13:33. 5, Victoria, Nelson 14 (Hicketts), 18:10.

Penalties-Lofthouse Van (slashing), 2:06; Walker Vic (interference), 2:06; Lofthouse Van (high sticking), 6:55; Osipov Van (hooking), 10:10; Nelson Vic (hooking), 14:05.

3rd Period-
6, Vancouver, Foster 6 (Hamilton), 1:35.
7, Vancouver, Traber 10 (Hamilton, Morrison), 8:21.
8, Victoria, Nelson 15 (Hicketts), 9:51.

Penalties-No Penalties

OT Period- No Scoring.Penalties-No Penalties

Shootout –
Vancouver 1 (Franson G, Kulak NG),
Victoria 0 (Nelson NG, Walker NG, Walker NG).

Shots on Goal-
Vancouver 10-11-8-1-1-31.
Victoria 11-13-5-3-0-32.

Power Play Opportunities-
Vancouver 0 / 1;
Victoria 1 / 2.

Goalies-
Vancouver, Lee 15-15-3-2 (32 shots-28 saves).
Victoria, Polivka 20-11-0-2 (30 shots-26 saves).

A-5,339
Referees-Sean Raphael (28), Pat Smith (12).
Linesmen-Riley Friesen (76), Kirk Van Helvoirt (107).