Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre has been a virtual snack-fest for the Victoria Royals this 2015-16 Western Hockey League season, devouring opponents like teenagers making late-night trips to the fridge.
With a franchise record 23 home victories already to their credit, the Royals gobbled down No. 24 on Friday against the visiting Prince George Cougars in a 6-2 win.
No. 1 overall Victoria extends its overall win streak to nine games and stretches its victorious run at home to 11.
Alex Forsberg and Matthew Phillips scored their second goals of the night and Jack Walker (on a 4-on-4) and Tyler Soy (shorthanded) added beauties on breakaways to break open a 2-2 tie after two periods before 5,832 fans at the Memorial Centre.
The Royals improve to 46-16-3-3 overall and 24-6-1-3 at home.
鈥淵ou never know what you鈥檙e going to get on the road so you always have to lock it down at home,鈥� said Forsberg, who tallied twice against his former team. 鈥淲e鈥檝e done a really good job of that, especially in the second half. And our crowds have been fantastic and it鈥檚 fun to play in front of.鈥�
Forsberg鈥檚 second of the evening was the game-winner at 2:29 of the third. Walker, Phillips and then Tyler Soy, with his team-high 41st, all tallied within 3:01 in the middle of the last frame.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 something we pride ourselves on this year and it鈥檚 something that鈥檚 going to be a key going into the playoffs,鈥� Walker added of the team鈥檚 home record.
The opening two goals of the game came from players tallying against their former teams.
Luke Harrison wasted little time snapping in the first goal for Prince George as he beat Coleman Vollrath just 42 seconds in. Forsberg got that one back for Victoria at 12:50 of the first as he finished off a nifty three-way passing play with Dante Hannoun and Chaz Reddekopp that forced Cougars鈥� goalie Ty Edmonds out of position.
Prince George restored its lead at 6:24 of the second as Tate Olson鈥檚 point shot slipped through a screened Vollrath. Phillips, the Royals鈥� rookie sensation, pounced on a loose puck on a power play to tie it back up at 2-2 at 13:06 of the middle frame.
Edmonds was a busy netminder facing 45 shots overall, while Vollrath had 27 fired his way.
The game was up for grabs after 40 minutes, despite Victoria out-shooting the visitors 34-16.
鈥淲e stayed with what we wanted to do and we got better. We started skating, we started hunting pucks again and managing the neutral zone,鈥� said Royals鈥� head coach Dave Lowry, whose team is now four points up on Kelowna, which lost 4-3 in overtime to Kamloops on Friday.
The same two teams meet up again on Sunday at noon.
