Recap: TRI 2 - VIC 3 OT

Axel Blomqvist watches Jordan Fransoo's shot get past Eric Comrie in overtime

Jordan Fransoo scored the overtime winner as the Victoria Royals (39-16-1-3, 82 pts) beat the visiting Tri City Americans 3-2 Wednesday night, clinching a playoff berth in the process.

Hamonic blocks Magee's shot

Steven Hodges was the number 1 star with a goal and assist as he forced overtime with his third period marker, while Coleman Vollrath made 37 saves for his 19th victory.

The Royals extended their win streak to 4 games and now have points in 11 straight games (9-0-1-1).

Earlier in the day, the club cracked the CHL Top 10 for the first time in franchise history, claiming the #10 ranking.

Victoria takes the season series 3 games to 1, while earning their 20th home victory of the season.

They remain 3rd in the West, 3 back of Portland and 7 ahead of idle Seattle.

Logan Nelson (19th) scored the lone goal of the first, before Mitch Topping's power play marker late in the 2nd frame evened the score.  Just 1:19 into the third the Americans added another goal with the man advantage courtesy of Parker Bowles to take their first lead of the game, 2-1.

Travis Brown blocks a shot with his foot

Steven Hodges replied 1:23 later to force overtime as he beat Comrie over the glove for his 17th, setting up the Fransoo point drive for the winner.

Tri City outshot Victoria 39-28, as the Americans power play went 2 for 5, while the Royals were 1 for 2 with the man advantage.

Victoria heads out Thursday on their biggest trek of the season, playing 5 games in 8 nights out East, 11 days on the road.  Then they’ll play a pair in Prince George before their next home date March 7th and 8th against Kamloops.  Victoria is riding a 6 game road winning streak.

- Marlon Martens

The Royals celebrate the 3-2 overtime win

Tri-City Americans 2 at Victoria Royals 3 (OT) - Status: Final OT
Wednesday, February 12, 2014 - Save-On-Foods Memorial Arena - Victoria, BC

Tri-City 0 1 1 0 - 2
Victoria 1 0 1 1 - 3

1st Period-
1, Victoria, Nelson 19 (Hodges, Kanzig), 11:16.

Penalties-No Penalties

2nd Period-
2, Tri-City, Topping 5 (Bowles, McCue), 18:45 (PP).

Penalties-Skapski Vic (charging), 15:23; Fisher Vic (holding), 17:10.

3rd Period-
3, Tri-City, Bowles 5 (McCue), 1:19 (PP).
4, Victoria, Hodges 17   2:42 (PP).

Penalties-Oleksyn Vic (high sticking), 0:16; Bowles T.c (high sticking), 2:07; Carroll Vic (kneeing), 4:43; Astles T.c (tripping), 7:10; Brown Vic (checking to the head), 9:14.

OT Period-
5, Victoria, Fransoo 4 (Cote), 2:26.

Penalties-No Penalties

Shots on Goal-
Tri-City 13-11-14-1-39.
Victoria 12-4-11-1-28.

Power Play Opportunities-
Tri-City 2 / 5;
Victoria 1 / 2.

Goalies-
Tri-City, Comrie 24-19-3-3 (28 shots-25 saves).
Victoria, Vollrath 19-5-1-1 (39 shots-37 saves).

A-4,501
Referees-Mike Campbell (89), Jeff Ingram (82).
Linesmen-Riley Friesen (76), Kirk Van Helvoirt (107).