Recap: VIC 3 - PORT 1 (Sat, Feb.6th,2016)

The visiting Victoria Royals (34-15-2-3, 73pts) scored three unanswered in the final frame to come from behind to beat the Portland Winterhawks 3-1 Saturday night.

“This is a team that believes it can win right now,” said Royals Head Coach Dave Lowry,

“When we evened the score we knew that we had another level to get to.  We played well for 40 minutes, but we didn’t really play at the pace that we wanted to and be successful.”

The club wins a franchise record 8^th in a row, and pick up points in 11 straight games (11-0-1-0) and are 3rd in the league, 2 back of league leading Kelowna and 1 back of Lethbridge.

“It’s great,” said Lowry on setting the franchise record,

“That’s a credit to our group and just how they prepare every night to come and work and play for each other.  The best part of it all is that this is a true team, and they really like and respect each other, and they come every night and play hard for each other.”

Alex Forsberg, Ryan Peckford and Vladimir Bobylev scored for the Royals, while Joe Hicketts collected a pair of assists.

For the rookie Peckford it was the game winner.

“It was great to see Peckford come up, who didn’t get a lot of ice, and hasn’t played a lot lately – and scores a huge goal for us.”  According to Lowry.

Griffen Outhouse stopped 27 of 28 to earn back to back victories after stopping all 16 in relief one night earlier in a 5-4 shoot out victory in Tri City.

“Guys battled in front of me, making it easy for me letting me see pucks – it was good.” Said the rookie Netminder.

Victoria pumped Adin Hill with18 third period shots, 40 in total stopping 37 in the defeat.

Both clubs were 0 for 4 on the power play.

Royals 20 year old forward Logan Fisher, got the hit of the game, and had a late fight with Latvian Rodrigo Abols.

“It’s nice to do that against Portland,” said Fisher, who’s club fell in the 2^nd round of the playoffs two seasons ago.

“We’re not huge fans of them for good reason, there’s a lot of history between these two teams that I’ve been a part of – it’s nice to bring that flair to the game.”

Victoria sweeps their 2 game US road swing.

“Both nights were tough, I give credit to our guys, they found ways to win hockey games…” said Lowry,

“We have an understanding that if we play a certain way, we give ourselves a chance to win - regardless if we’re at home or on the road.”

They’ll now return home to face Everett, who are 5 back of the Royals in the Conference, and have won 3 straight.  It’s a chance for Victoria defenseman Jordan Wharrie to face his former club for the first time.

- Marlon Martens

Victoria Royals 3 at Portland Winterhawks 1 - Status: Final
Saturday, February 6, 2016 - Moda Center - Portland, OR

Victoria 0 0 3 - 3
Portland 1 0 0 - 1

1st Period-

1, Portland, Glass 8 (Bukarts, Jones), 8:49.

Penalties-Abols Por (interference), 11:46; Nagy Vic (kneeing), 15:20.

2nd Period-

No Scoring.

Penalties-Jones Por (elbowing), 5:36; Clayton Por (slashing), 10:10; Soy Vic (hooking), 10:19; Gagnon Vic (tripping), 12:26; Schoenborn Por (high sticking), 16:26.

3rd Period-

2, Victoria, Forsberg 22 (Hicketts, Hannoun), 5:43.

3, Victoria, Peckford 6 (Price, Hicketts), 8:09.

4, Victoria, Bobylev 17 (Gagnon), 13:16.

Penalties-Fisher Vic (inter. on goaltender), 13:32; Fisher Vic (major-fighting), 19:24; Abols Por (major-fighting), 19:24.

Shots on Goal-

Victoria 13-9-18-40.

Portland 10-6-12-28.

Power Play Opportunities-

Victoria 0 / 4;

Portland 0 / 4.

Goalies-

Victoria, Outhouse 11-3-2-1 (28 shots-27 saves).

Portland, Hill 24-22-1-0 (40 shots-37 saves).

A-9,096
Referees-Kyle Kowalski (15), Dexter Rasmussen (25).
Linesmen-Jarrod Boman (116), Erik Freeman (104).