What鈥檚 nearly a month without victory feel like?
Not fun and the Victoria Royals never want to experience it again.
The Royals snapped a franchise-record tying 11-game winless streak (0-8-3) with a 5-3 WHL victory over the Vancouver Giants before 5,393 fans Friday at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre.
It was Victoria鈥檚 first win since Feb. 10.
鈥淟osing is extremely exhausting. It鈥檚 not a good feeling,鈥� said forward Steven Hodges, who scored twice for Victoria.
鈥淚t felt good to get the monkey off our backs.鈥�
It took awhile in coming but the Royals finally tied the franchise record for most wins in a season, matching the 33 from 2010-11, when the team was located in Chilliwack and known as the Bruins.
Jack Walker, directly off a face-off win by his brother Ben Walker, scored the winner to make it 4-3 at 4:26 of the third period.
鈥淭he puck was meant to go to [Logan Nelson] 鈥� it was a lucky bounce,鈥� said Ben Walker.
But his brother, a rookie, was ready when the opportunity presented itself.
鈥淛ack is really picking it up. Every game, he gets better and better,鈥� said Ben Walker, who also scored on the night.
The Giants (19-47-2) will miss the playoffs for the first time since the franchise鈥檚 2001-02 inaugural season, but came into the game having won four of their last five games. Vancouver got a goal and three points from Cain Franson.
Victoria energy-forward Brandon Magee, while short-handed and from a smart assist from Hodges, scored his 30th goal of the season.
鈥淭he guys are excited and worked hard,鈥� said Victoria head coach Dave Lowry, who manufactured victory despite missing five players to injury and two to suspensions.
鈥淚t was nice to hear some music in the room tonight [following the game].鈥�
The Royals, who will go into the playoffs as the sixth seed in the Western Conference, are 7-2 against Vancouver. The clubs close out their 10-game season series tonight at the PNE Pacific Coliseum.
In what may be a shift in the depth chart, former back-up Coleman Vollrath made his second straight start in the crease for Victoria and made 28 saves.
Former Royals goalie Jared Rathjen made 24 saves for Vancouver.
