Logan Fisher had the hat trick to help lift the visiting
Victoria Royals (38-16-3-3, 82pts) past the Vancouver Giants 5-2 Wednesday
afternoon.
Trailing 2-1 after 20 minutes, the Royals struck twice a
minute apart to retake the lead.
“We came out got back to work and started playing to our
strengths,” said Head Coach Dave Lowry.
Fisher gave them the go ahead goal, and added another to
take a 4-2 lead to the third. Fisher
completed the natural trick into an empty net for the insurance marker.
“It was great, that felt really good - I couldn’t get the
smile off my face…” said the 20 year old Fisher,
“It was a good thing for me personally, and It was nice
to get a win to end off the trip.”
Victoria completed a stretch 4 games in 5 nights, picking up
5 of a possible 8 points all on the road (2-1-1-0). The Royals now have points in 2 straight
after suffering a 2-1 overtime loss against the Winterhawks Monday.
“I liked the fact that we were winding down, coming off
the road and we found a way to get the game turned back, and back under
control.” Said Lowry.
Tyler Soy (33rd) opened the scoring for Victoria,
while Vladimir Bobylev (19th) tied it at 2. Netminder Griffen Outhouse made 28 saves in
the win.
Ryan Kubic stopped 30 of 34 in the loss, while Vancouver got
goals from Radovan Bondra and Taylor Crunk a minute apart in the first to give them
their only lead.
The Royals were 1 for 4 on the power play, holding off both
Giants man advantages.
Victoria was ranked 9th in the CHL Top 10 earlier
in the day, down from 6th a week earlier. With the win, they move past Lethbridge into
sole possession of 2nd place in the overall standings, 1 back of Kelowna.
Vancouver remains last in the West, 11 back of Kamloops for the final Wild Card spot.
Ryan Gagnon was a +3 on the night, and earned 3rd
star honours. Gagnon is now 3rd
in WHL in plus/minus (+36).
The Royals lead the 10 game season series 5 – 3, winning
their last 3 encounters.
Victoria returns home to face Kamloops for a pair of games
Friday and Saturday, the later being the annual Pink in the Rink night.
- Marlon Martens
Victoria Royals 5 at Vancouver Giants 2 - Status: End of
Game
Wednesday, February 17, 2016 - Pacific Coliseum - Vancouver, BC
Victoria 1 3 1 - 5
Vancouver 2 0 0 - 2
1st Period-
Wednesday, February 17, 2016 - Pacific Coliseum - Vancouver, BC
Victoria 1 3 1 - 5
Vancouver 2 0 0 - 2
1st Period-
1, Victoria, Soy 33 (Hicketts, Bobylev), 6:15.
2, Vancouver, Bondra 8 (Jones, Holt), 9:34.
3, Vancouver, Crunk 5 (Osipov, Foster), 10:36.
Penalties-Osipov Van (tripping), 2:14; Reddekopp Vic (cross
checking), 16:42.
2nd Period-
2nd Period-
4, Victoria, Bobylev 19 (Walford), 5:29 (PP).
5, Victoria, Fisher 8 (Price), 6:29.
6, Victoria, Fisher 9 (Nagy, Dmytriw), 14:07.
Penalties-served by Dhaliwal Van (too many men), 3:37;
Phillips Vic (high sticking), 7:55; Hicketts Vic (roughing), 8:18; Popoff Van
(roughing), 8:18; Lang Van (roughing), 10:47.
3rd Period-
3rd Period-
7, Victoria, Fisher 10 (Forsberg), 18:27 (EN).
Penalties-Dhaliwal Van (slashing), 14:05.
Shots on Goal-
Shots on Goal-
Victoria 12-12-11-35.
Vancouver 16-8-6-30.
Power Play Opportunities-
Victoria 1 / 4;
Vancouver 0 / 2.
Goalies-
Victoria, Outhouse 14-3-3-1 (30 shots-28 saves).
Vancouver, Kubic 16-19-4-0 (34 shots-30 saves).
A-6,514
Referees-Mike Langin (67), Nick Swaine (35).
Linesmen-Ron Dietterle (121), Bevan Mills (98).
