VICTORIA 3
SPOKANE 2 (OT)
(Royals lead series 3-1)
Requiring a push-back, the Victoria Royals managed to complete the challenging task on Wednesday night, downing the host Spokane Chiefs 3-2 in overtime to secure a 3-1 best-of-seven series lead in their opening WHL Western Conference post-season matchup.
Alex Forsberg scored his second goal of the game at 8:41 of the first extra session to earn the victory.
Having lost 5-2 the previous night, the Royals battled back from an early 1-0 deficit in Game 4. They can finish off their American opponent on Friday at 7 p.m. at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre, where they have not lost in regulation time since mid-December.
Head coach Dave Lowry was delighted with the result, especially after a concerning 5-2 loss on Tuesday in which he felt the competitiveness and urgency levels had dropped.
鈥淚 thought tonight we played the way we鈥檝e played all year. There wasn鈥檛 a lot of space out there and we had to work and fight for our chances,鈥� said Lowry. 鈥淚 like the way we brought our game.鈥�
The Royals were once again without injured captain Joe Hicketts, who has now missed the last three games since recording a goal and two assists in Game 1. Hard-hitting rearguard Ryan Gagnon did return from his two-game suspension.
Dominic Zwerger opened up the scoring just 4:09 into the game, but rookie sensation Matthew Phillips replied on the power play at 9:59 as he tallied his second playoff goal in two nights. Spokane has now recorded the first goal on three consecutive games.
Presten Kopeck restored the Chiefs鈥� lead on a power play at 8:00 of the second period, but Forsberg tied it again just 1:08 later, although it required a lengthy review.
Griffen Outhouse made his first WHL playoff start between the pipes for the Royals and faced 32 shots. He had blanked the Chiefs 3-0 earlier this season. Lasse Petersen made his fourth straight start in goal for Spokane, making 23 saves.
鈥淚 thought we needed something different. We needed a different look. Playoffs are about everybody and he came in and did what he needed to do,鈥� Lowry said of Outhouse.
Victoria鈥檚 power play was just 1-for-6 in the game, while the Chiefs were 1-for-2. Forsberg did ring a puck off the post on one of three third-period power plays, that went goal-less.
鈥淲e didn鈥檛 shoot the puck enough on those power plays, that was most concerning,鈥� said Lowry.
