The Victoria Royals scored 4 goals in in the middle frame to double up the Spokane Chiefs 6-3 on the road Friday night.
“Capitalizing on our chances, and special teams were good, especially the power play…” said Royals Assistant Coach Morgan Klimchuk on the difference in the game.
Tanner Scott and Marcus Almquist had 3 point nights with 2 goals and an assist each. They were named 1st and 2nd stars of the night, respectively. Almquist has put up 5 points (3g, 2a) over his past 2 outings.
Riley Gannon had a goal and a helper, and Matthew Hodson (wearing a cage to protect a facial injury) added a single. Teague Patton added two assists.
Braden Holt made 31 saves for the win, making key stops in the first, allowing the Royals to get their footing and taking a 2-1 lead to the second.
“We got off to a bit of a slow start…another fantastic game from Braden (Holt), they definitely out-chanced us in the first and he held us in there.” quipped Klimchuk.
Victoria then outscored Spokane by a 4-2 margin in the middle frame, before closing it out in the final 20 minutes.
“We definitely locked it down in the third…they guys elevated their game after the first, and stepped up when they needed too.” added Klimchuk
The Royals won the special teams game, going 2 for 2 on the power play and scoring a short handed goal. The Chiefs scored once shorthanded on a penalty shot, but went 0 for 3 on their man advantages.
Victoria has now killed off 14 of 14 shorthanded situations over their last 4 games.
The Royals have won 7 of their last 11, with points in 8 of those. Victoria remains 9th in the West, and pull 7 ahead of Spokane, while staying 5 back of Kelowna for the final playoff spot in the West – the Rockets hold 3 games in hand.
Up next they’ll visit the Americans at Tri-City Saturday at 6pm.
– Marlon Martens
Victoria Royals 6 at Spokane Chiefs 3 – Status: Final
Friday, January 6, 2023 – Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena – Spokane, WA
Victoria 2 4 0 – 6
Spokane 1 2 0 – 3
1st Period-
1, Victoria, Almquist 5 5:16.
2, Victoria, Hodson 9 (Kipkie, Patton), 16:07 (PP).
3, Spokane, Bertholet 15 (Catton, Gross), 19:23.
Penalties-Weinstein Spo (high sticking), 14:12.
2nd Period-
4, Victoria, Scott 6 (Gannon), 1:29 (SH).
5, Victoria, Gannon 10 (Almquist, Spizawka), 6:02.
6, Spokane, Hayes 7 (Gross, Cheveldayoff), 12:42.
7, Victoria, Scott 7 13:59.
8, Spokane, Cheveldayoff 14 17:21 (SH PS).
9, Victoria, Almquist 6 (Patton, Scott), 18:01 (PP).
Penalties-Kipkie Vic (hooking), 0:47; Schuurman Vic (high sticking), 10:48; De Luca Spo (high sticking), 10:48; Gizowski Spo (high sticking), 16:43; Newman Vic (hooking), 18:20.
3rd Period-
No Scoring.
Penalties-Schuurman Vic (roughing), 9:45; Weinstein Spo (roughing), 9:45; Briltz Vic (cross checking), 19:14.
Shots on Goal-
Victoria 7-16-6-29.
Spokane 10-15-9-34.
Power Play Opportunities-
Victoria 2 / 2;
Spokane 0 / 3.
Goalies-
Victoria, Holt 16-13-1-1 (34 shots-31 saves).
Spokane, Michaluk 4-11-0-2 (29 shots-23 saves).
A-4,430
Referees-Bryan Bourdon (45), Jackson Kozari (97).
Linesmen-Anthony Guzzo (135), Mitchell Gibbs (142).
