Zach Pochiro scored twice including the winner as the visiting Prince George Cougars (18-18, 36pts) edged the Victoria Royals 4-3 Saturday night.
“Solid finish to the game, if we would’ve started like we finished - we probably would have had a different result tonight.” said Interim Head Coach Enio Sacilotto, “…at the end of the day the clock ran out on us.”
The Cougars snapped their 3 game losing streak, while extending the Royals winless slide to 5 games (0-4-0-1).
Prince George takes a 2-1 season series lead after the clubs split a pair in early November and are now to within one point of their BC Division rivals.
The two clubs will meet again Sunday afternoon at 1pm, with families invited to skate with the players following the matinee.
Victoria (17-18-2-1, 37pts) trailed 1-0 after 20 minutes, and 4-1 after 40.
The Royals got two goals from Tyler Soy, and a goal and assist from Greg Chase. They were without Joe Hicketts (WJ), and Brandon Magee (Upper).
Coleman Vollrath got the start for Victoria and stopped 17 of 20 before being relieved by Jayden Sittler in the middle frame, who allowed 1 goal on 10 shots. Ty Edmonds earned the win with 16 saves as the Cougars outshot their hosts 30-19.
After allowing 14 shots against in the first, and 12 in the second, the Royals held the opposition to just 4 shots in the final frame.
Prince George went 1 for 6 on the power play, scoring on a 5 on 3 man advantage. Victoria was 0 for 5.
Tyler Soy was stopped on second period penalty shot by Ty Edmonds, but scored on his very next shift. He runs his point streak to 3 games, collecting 7 points with 5 goals and 2 assists in that span.
Hayden Hopkins and Aaron Boyd also scored for the Cougars, while Tate Olson chipped in with a pair of helpers.
It was the first game following the Christmas break, and it opened Victoria’s 7 game homestand.
- Marlon Martens
Prince George Cougars 4 at Victoria Royals 3 - Status: Final
Saturday, December 27, 2014 - Save-On-Foods Memorial Arena - Victoria, BC
Prince George 1 3 0 - 4
Victoria 0 1 2 - 3
1st Period-
1, Prince George, Pochiro 6 (Olson), 2:57.
Penalties-Bear P.g (holding), 0:34; McDonald P.g (checking from behind), 7:20; Carroll Vic (kneeing), 9:52; McDonald P.g (high sticking), 17:48; Reddekopp Vic (interference), 18:39.
2nd Period-
2, Prince George, Hopkins 2 (Mrkonjic, Bethune), 5:26.
3, Prince George, Boyd 2 (Olson, McDonald), 7:55.
4, Victoria, Soy 11 11:55.
5, Prince George, Pochiro 7 16:25 (PP).
Penalties-Ruopp P.g (tripping), 2:59; Jarratt Vic (cross checking), 14:51; Gagnon Vic (kneeing), 15:58; Pochiro P.g (roughing), 20:00; Fushimi Vic (roughing), 20:00.
3rd Period-
6, Victoria, Soy 12 (Chase, Brown), 10:16.
7, Victoria, Chase 7 (Fushimi, Carroll), 18:58.
Penalties-Carroll Vic (roughing), 6:10; Walker Vic (cross checking), 6:10; Harkins P.g (hooking), 13:16.
Shots on Goal-
Prince George 14-12-4-30.
Victoria 5-7-7-19.
Power Play Opportunities-
Prince George 1 / 6;
Victoria 0 / 5.
Goalies-
Prince George, Edmonds 16-14-0-0 (19 shots-16 saves).
Victoria, Vollrath 14-11-2-1 (20 shots-17 saves); Sittler 2-6-0-0 (10 shots-9 saves).
A-5,293
Referees-Derek Zalaski (8).
Linesmen-Riley Friesen (76), Kirk Van Helvoirt (107).
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