Brandon Magee scored twice in the third, including the eventual winner as the Victoria Royals edged the visiting Prince George Cougars 5-4 Saturday night, taking a 2-0 playoff series lead.
Victoria never trailed in the game, holding period leads of 1-0 and 3-2, but Prince George tied the game twice in the final frame, and both times Magee pulled the home team ahead.
“We found a way to win…” said Head Coach Dave Lowry,
“The one thing that I liked tonight was when we did give up those goals (in the third), we battled back, and stayed with it, and were able to get the lead back twice.”
Magee also scored the game winner one night earlier, giving him 5 goals and an assist in the two games.
“Our whole team has been playing phenomenal night in and night out,” said Magee,
“I just happened to be in the right spots at the right times, and Forsberg made a nice pass to me on that last goal - I was lucky enough to put it home.”
The series now shifts to Prince George for games 3 and 4 on Wednesday and Thursday.
Royals netminder Coleman Vollrath earned a second straight win making 30 saves, while his counterpart Ty Edmonds kicked out 20 shots.
The Cougars power play was effective again going 2 for 6, and a combined 5 for 10 in the two games. The Royals struck out on both man advantages, going 0 for 5 in the series.
The line of Tyler Soy, Greg Chase and Jack Walker combined for 6 points, each with a goal and assist.
Prince George got a pair of goals from defenseman Tate Olson while Zach Pochiro and Chase Witala added singles. Brad Morrison, Joseph Carvalho and Jansen Harkins chipped in with a pair of helpers each.
Attendance was announced at 5,545.
- Marlon Martens
Prince George Cougars 4 at Victoria Royals 5 - Status: Final
Saturday, March 28, 2015 - Save-On-Foods Memorial Arena - Victoria, BC
Prince George 0 2 2 - 4
Victoria 1 2 2 - 5
1st Period-
1, Victoria, Walker 1 (Reddekopp), 13:57.
Penalties-Harkins P.g (cross checking), 5:51; Carroll Vic (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 7:44; Sayers Vic (holding), 14:25; Carvalho P.g (high sticking), 18:20; Soy Vic (hooking), 18:49.
2nd Period-
2, Victoria, Soy 1 (Chase, Hicketts), 3:20.
3, Prince George, Olson 2 (Morrison, Carvalho), 5:50 (PP).
4, Victoria, Chase 2 (Walker, Soy), 15:11.
5, Prince George, Pochiro 1 (Harkins), 18:28.
Penalties-Ruopp P.g (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 2:26; Forsberg Vic (slashing), 2:26; Magee Vic (cross checking), 3:57.
3rd Period-
6, Prince George, Olson 3 (Soltes, Morrison), 5:02 (PP).
7, Victoria, Magee 4 11:51.
8, Prince George, Witala 2 (Harkins, Carvalho), 13:49.
9, Victoria, Magee 5 (Forsberg, Brown), 15:47.
Penalties-Fushimi Vic (delay of game), 3:06; Crunk Vic (boarding), 16:23.
Shots on Goal-
Prince George 13-8-13-34.
Victoria 8-11-6-25.
Power Play Opportunities-
Prince George 2 / 6;
Victoria 0 / 2.
Goalies-
Prince George, Edmonds 0-2-0-0 (25 shots-20 saves).
Victoria, Vollrath 2-0-0-0 (34 shots-30 saves).
A-5,545
Referees-Mike Campbell (89), Reagan Vetter (39).
Linesmen-Riley Friesen (76), Kirk Van Helvoirt (107).
ROYALS EDGE COUGARS IN GAME 2
Victoria downs Prince George 5-4 to go up 2-0 in best-of-seven series.
For Immediate Release
Saturday, March 28, 2015
Victoria, BC- Victoria Royals’ Brandon Magee notched two goals in the final frame including the game-winner as the homeside defeated the Prince George Cougars 5-4 to take a 2-0 series lead in the Western Conference Quarter-Finals.
The Cougars would tie the game twice in the third period, however Magee would answer back on both occasions. Jack Walker, Tyler Soy and Greg Chase notched the other markers for Victoria. Prince George’s goals were potted by Tate Olson (2), Zach Pochiro and Chase Witala.
Victoria goaltender Coleman Vollrath stopped 30 of the 34 shots he faced, while Prince George netminder Ty Edmonds turned aside 20 of 25 shots.
The Royals went 0/2=0.0% on the powerplay and the Cougars would go 2/6=33.3% with the man advantage.
The best-of-seven series will now shift to Prince George for Games 3 and 4 on Wednesday, April 1st and Thursday, April 2nd with puck drop slated for 7:00pm on both nights.
The Royals will return home for Game 5 (if necessary) on Saturday, April 4th with puck drop set for 7:05pm. Individual playoff tickets, starting at $13.00, are now on sale at the Select Your Tickets Box Office located at the arena, over the phone at 250-220-7777 or online at ww.selectyourtickets.com.
Season Tickets for the 2015-16 Royals season are on sale now. Take advantage of our exclusive Early Bird offer to new season ticket holders by placing a $100 per seat deposit and getting all remaining home games for the first round of the playoffs for free. To arrange a meeting to pick your seats please call 250-220-7889 or visit the Victoria Royals ticket office at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre.
