Recap: EDM 2 - VIC 8 (Wed. Feb 9th, 2016)

The Victoria Royals (36-15-2-3, 77pts) pulled into a tie for 1^st overall in the WHL with the Kelowna Rockets Tuesday night after defeating the visiting Edmonton Oil Kings 8-2.

“We didn’t play as sharp in the first, but got some timely goals, were able to push the pace and got to playing our brand.” Said Head Coach Dave Lowry.

The Royals, playing 4 games in 5 nights, earned their franchise best 10^th win in a row, and now have points in 13 straight games (12-0-1-0).

“What we have won, is the respect of the teams that we are playing,” said Lowry,

“We have to work to win, and that’s the one thing we pride ourselves on – and that is a staple with every team I’ve been associated with…this is a great group, they have tremendous respect for each other, they value everybody’s role on the team - and it shows in the way they go and play every night.”

Trailing 2-1 in the first period, Victoria scored the next 7 unanswered.  The Royals led 3-2 after 20 minutes, and 7-2 after 40.

Jared Dmytriw scored twice including the eventual winner, while Tyler Soy had 2 goals and an assist for a 3 point night.  

“These past 10 games have been going very well for us, and we’ve got a lot of confidence in the room right now.” Said the sophomore forward Dmytriw who now has 10 goals,

“We don’t get discouraged easily and don’t get on each other, we’re always there for each other.  For us to get back into the game when down 2-1 was nice.”

Victoria got goals from 7 different skaters, as 14 Royals hit the score sheet, including 8 with multi-point nights.

Jack Walker and Regan Nagy had a goal and an assist, while Logan Fisher, Vladimir Bobylev and Marsel Ibragimov had 2 helpers each.  Joe Hicketts, Alex Forsberg and Ethan Price scored singles.

Victoria out shot Edmonton 39-27, chase starter Peyton Lee from the nets after allowing 6 goals on 21 shots.  Patrick Dea stopped 16 of 18 in relief.  Coleman Vollrath earned the win for the Royals making 25 saves.

Victoria struck on both of their first two man advantages, going 2 for 5 on the night, while not allowing Edmonton a single man advantage.

“I liked that,” said Lowry on the clubs discipline,

“Whistle to whistle, that was the key…early in the game our power play was sharp and it gave us a little bit of separation.”

The Oil Kings got goals from Kobe Mohr and local product Dysin Mayo, a 5^th round pick of Arizona.

Dmytriw’s second of the night also tied the franchise record for fastest goal to start a period, just :09 seconds into the third.

The Royals now lead the season series 2-0 after defeating the visiting Oil Kings 6-3 on November 18^th.  They’ll meet once more in Edmonton Feb. 29^th.

Up next Victoria hits the road for another 4 in 5 beginning in Everett Saturday night.

- Marlon Martens

Edmonton Oil Kings 2 at Victoria Royals 8 - Status: Final
Tuesday, February 9, 2016 - Save-On-Foods Memorial Arena - Victoria, BC

Edmonton 2 0 0 - 2
Victoria 3 4 1 - 8

1st Period-

1, Victoria, Soy 30 (Walker, Bobylev), 0:59.

2, Edmonton, Mohr 5 (Baddock), 3:00.

3, Edmonton, Mayo 4 (Elizarov), 8:22.

4, Victoria, Hicketts 4 (Phillips, Soy), 14:18 (PP).

5, Victoria, Dmytriw 9 (Fisher), 15:01.

Penalties-Elizarov Edm (delay of game), 13:45.

2nd Period-

6, Victoria, Nagy 8 (Hannoun, Ibragimov), 6:20.

7, Victoria, Forsberg 23 (Hannoun, Ibragimov), 6:47.

8, Victoria, Walker 23 (Walford, Soy), 12:09.

9, Victoria, Price 9 (Reddekopp, Bobylev), 13:57 (PP).

Penalties-Baddock Edm (roughing), 7:11; Hicketts Vic (slashing), 7:11; Pollock Edm (interference), 13:22.

3rd Period-

10, Victoria, Dmytriw 10 (Fisher, Nagy), 0:09.

Penalties-Mayo Edm (slashing), 7:28; Meyer Edm (slashing), 13:12; Baddock Edm (elbowing), 19:48; Kehler Edm (10-minute misconduct), 19:48.

Shots on Goal-

Edmonton 8-6-13-27.

Victoria 10-17-12-39.

Power Play Opportunities-

Edmonton 0 / 0;

Victoria 2 / 5.

Goalies-

Edmonton, Lee 10-13-3-1 (21 shots-15 saves); Dea 14-15-3-1 (18 shots-16 saves). Victoria, Vollrath 24-12-0-2 (27 shots-25 saves).

A-3,939
Referees-Brett Iverson (24), Fraser Lawrence (10).
Linesmen-Riley Friesen (76), Kirk Van Helvoirt (107).