Down 2-0 heading into the final frame, the Royals (9-9-2-0, 20 pts) out shot the Cougars 11-4, but Jansen Harkins notched the eventual winner, between a pair of Victoria power play goals.
“If you play from behind, you spot a team 2 goals it’s hard to come back…” said Head Coach Dave Lowry,
“For us to be successful we’re going to need secondary scoring…to win in this league you can’t just have your top players scoring.”
The Cougars move 2 points up on the Royals for a share of 3rd in West with the Americans, while Victoria remains tied with Kamloops for 4th with 20 points a piece.
The clubs face off against each other again Saturday evening.
“We have to start the game off the way we finished it tonight.” Said Lowry about taking the momentum generated in the third into the next game.
Jayden Sittler in his first WHL start for Victoria stopped 21 of 24 in the loss.
“I think I want that first goal back,” said a modest Sittler, “I battled hard, and at least gave us a chance to win. I’m going take a look at this game, and see it as a positive in my career.”
Ty Edmonds went 23 for 25 for Prince George, improving to 10-7 on the year.
The Royals were 2 for 6 on the power play, while the Cougars were 1 for 4.
Victoria has scored a power play goal in 9 straight games. (12/30 = 40%)
Keegan Kanzig fought Braid earlier in the third. There were only 41 minutes of penalties between the two most penalized clubs in the league (by average per game).
Brandon Magee extended his point streak to 8 games and 14 points (5g 9a).
“If our guys only play 20 minutes of hockey, most of the time you’re not going to come out with the win - that was the main thing tonight,” said Magee.
“If we play a full 60 minutes I don’t think there’s a lot of teams that can compete with us…”
Team WHL defenseman, Joe Hicketts added an assist to push his point streak to 5 games, amassing 7pts (1g 6a). He’s 2nd in defenseman scoring in the league with 22 points.
Austin Carroll remains tied for 3rd in goals scored with 12 with his power play marker. He leads his club in scoring with 25 points in 18 games (12g 13a). He’s 7th in overall points.
Not dressed for Victoria was netminder Evan Smith, defenseman Ralph Jarratt, and forwards Matthew Campese and Dante Hannoun. Prince George was without Chase Witala who is 2nd in team scoring with 18 points in 18 games. He served the first of a 2 game suspension.
The announced attendance was 2,750.
- Marlon Martens
Victoria Royals 2 at Prince George Cougars 3 - Status: End of Game
Friday, November 7, 2014 - CN Centre - Prince George, BC
Victoria 0 0 2 - 2
Prince George 0 2 1 - 3
1st Period-
No Scoring.
Penalties-Hicketts Vic (holding opp. stick), 16:04.
2nd Period-
1, Prince George, Erricson 11 (Braid, Ruopp), 8:41.
2, Prince George, Braid 5 (Erricson, Morrison), 13:19.
Penalties-served by Erricson P.g (too many men), 0:58; Ruopp P.g (boarding), 3:19; Mrkonjic P.g (hooking), 9:11; Magee Vic (cross checking), 10:25.
3rd Period-
3, Victoria, Magee 5 (Carroll), 3:03 (PP).
4, Prince George, Harkins 5 (Morrison, Olson), 5:31 (PP).
5, Victoria, Carroll 12 (Hicketts, Magee), 15:09 (PP).
Penalties-Harkins P.g (kneeing), 1:22; Carroll Vic (roughing), 5:15; Kanzig Vic (major-fighting), 5:15; Braid P.g (major-fighting), 5:15; Reddekopp Vic (charging, roughing), 5:47; Mrkonjic P.g (roughing, roughing), 5:47; Braid P.g (major - checking to the head, game misconduct), 12:11; served by Eagletail P.g (too many men), 17:19; Magee Vic (tripping), 18:47.
Shots on Goal-
Victoria 8-6-11-25.
Prince George 11-9-4-24.
Power Play Opportunities-
Victoria 2 / 6;
Prince George 1 / 4.
Goalies-
Victoria, Sittler 0-1-0-0 (24 shots-21 saves).
Prince George, Edmonds 10-7-0-0 (25 shots-23 saves).
A-2,750
Referees-Fraser Lawrence (10), Colin Watt (72).
Linesmen-Brendon Creyke (131), Nathan Van Oosten (115).
