Coleman Vollrath made 34 saves including stopping a
penalty shot for the visiting Victoria Royals (14-13-2-0, 30pts), but Calder
Brooks scored twice and added an assist to lead the Spokane Chiefs (13-8-3-0,
29pts) to 4-2 victory Tuesday night.
“We could’ve competed a little bit harder, I didn’t think we were as good as we could’ve been…” said Assistant Coach Enio Sacilotto,
“Having said that, we definitely had enough chances to win the game, especially at the end…we had great quality opportunities to tie it up, and perhaps even win it.”
The Chiefs broke a second period 1-1 tie with a pair of late goals late in the frame.
The Royals drew to within one in the third, but Brooks second into an empty net added insurance.
Victoria got goals from Greg Chase his second in as many nights, and Austin Carroll’s 18th, the 3rd most in the WHL.
“It definitely stings, we had a lot of chances – enough to win the game…” said Carroll,
“We made a couple costly mistakes and they capitalized…”
Vollrath also made a highlight reel save in third while short handed, to compliment the penalty shot save which was also off rookie Kailer Yamamoto, who contributed with 3 assists.
Video of save: http://t.co/9bI8jkNQka
“I was just trying to do whatever I could to give the team a chance to win…” said Vollrath who was name 2nd star,
“I was having a lot of fun out there tonight, and that’s when I’m playing my best. On that paddle save, (swatting it out of the air with the backside of his stick) I was just trying anything I could to keep the puck out of the net and it happened to work out.”
Carroll agreed it could be his best of the year, “I haven’t seen a better save yet, from any goalie, so it was definitely one to remember.”
Yamamoto’s line with Brooks, and Adam Helewka (1g 1a) combined for 8 points.
Austin Carroll scored his 18th of the year and Greg Chase added his second goal as a Royal in as many nights.
Victoria dropped their second in a row after falling in Portland one night earlier by the same score. Spokane wins their 4th in a row and with 29 points are now just 1 back of the Royals in the West.
Garrett Houghson earned the win kicking out 30 of 32 Victoria shots.
The Royals were 0 for 2 on the power play, while stopping all 3 Chiefs man advantages.
Victoria was without the service of Brandon Magee, serving the 4th of a 5 game suspension. The Royals fall to 6-10 on the road.
Victoria wraps up their 3 game road trip in Kamloops on Saturday.
-Marlon Martens
Victoria Royals 2 at Spokane Chiefs 4 - Status: End of Game
Wednesday, November 26, 2014 - Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena
Victoria 1 0 1 - 2
Spokane 1 2 1 - 4
1st Period-
1, Spokane, Brooks 9 (Helewka, Yamamoto), 2:48.
2, Victoria, Chase 4 (Blomqvist, Jarratt), 16:46.
Penalties-Walker Vic (tripping), 11:11.
2nd Period-
3, Spokane, Fram 3 (Sozanski, Yamamoto), 15:03.
4, Spokane, Helewka 13 (Brooks, Yamamoto), 19:04.
Penalties-Fiala Spo (holding), 10:21; Reddekopp Vic (boarding), 15:33.
3rd Period-
5, Victoria, Carroll 18 (Walker, Ibragimov), 8:11.
6, Spokane, Brooks 10 (Yamamoto), 19:23 (EN).
Penalties-Palmer Vic (checking from behind), 1:21; Laday Spo (kneeing), 14:34.
Shots on Goal-
Victoria 13-8-11-32.
Spokane 9-12-17-38.
Power Play Opportunities-
Victoria 0 / 2;
Spokane 0 / 3.
Goalies-
Victoria, Vollrath 11-9-2-0 (37 shots-34 saves).
Spokane, Hughson 9-6-3-0 (32 shots-30 saves).
A-4,010
Referees-Kevin Bennett (29), Mike Langin (67).
Linesmen-Jeremi Del Campo (44), Anthony Guzzo (135).
