The Victoria Royals advanced to the second round of the Western Hockey League playoffs after a riveting and tension-drenched night of high drama in the deciding Game 7 of their opening-round series against the valiant Vancouver Giants.
The Giants threw everything except maybe a C-Class ferry and a SkyTrain car at the Royals in the third period at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre. But Victoria received breathless, game-saving stops time and again from goaltender Griffen Outhouse to preserve the 4-3 victory to move on to the Western Conference semifinals against the Tri-City Americans, beginning Friday and Saturday at the Memorial Centre.
The game ended with captain Matthew Phillips throwing himself almost head-first at the puck to block Vancouver鈥檚 last-gasp point shot as the crowd of 6,467, sounding more like 16,000, erupted almost as much in relief as glee. It was a moment reminiscent, in reverse, of 2016 when the Kelowna Rockets scored on the Royals with 0.02 seconds remaining, before winning in overtime, in Game 7 of the second round.
鈥淎bsolutely, that was playing in my mind,鈥� said Phillips.
As it was for Outhouse, another veteran of that 2016 team.
鈥淚 joked with Matthew before the game about how it could come down to a play like that again,鈥� said Outhouse.
鈥淢atthew almost took it off the face. He told me he would have taken if off the face if that鈥檚 what it took.鈥�
In the end, the Royals鈥� heavy playoff experience paid off against a Giants team making its first post-season appearance in four years.
鈥淚t was an unbelievable series between two really competitive teams. I have a lot of respect for both teams,鈥� said Phillips.
Royals head coach Dan Price concurred: 鈥淚t was a hard-fought series. It took all we had to get through it. Vancouver competed so hard. But we stayed poised and stayed calm.鈥�
The series left both teams drained. The Royals, however, and happily for them, must regroup to face a Tri-City team loaded with top-end NHL-drafted talent. The Giants catch a morning ferry to clear out their lockers at the Langley Events Centre.
Even Royals fans, however, had to admit it was poignant to watch Giants stars Tyler Benson, and especially Ty Ronning, skate off the Memorial Centre ice for the last time in their WHL careers. These teams meet each other 10 times every regular season, and this season met 17 times, including the playoffs.
The Royals squandered leads of 3-0 and 4-1 Tuesday as the Giants, who have not won a playoff series since 2010, just wouldn鈥檛 go away.
Victoria defenceman Chaz Reddekopp deflected home a shot by Noah Gregor on the power play to open scoring at 18:36 of the first period. The Royals got goals from Lane Zablocki and Phillips early in the second period and had a potential fourth goal disallowed by an early whistle. Then, as often happens, Vancouver came down and scored through Tyler Popowich. So instead of being 4-0, it was suddenly 3-1.
Phillips got Victoria鈥檚 fourth goal, but the Giants were back within two on a Matt Barberis deflection and then within one on a Brennan Riddle laser at 18:40 of the second period as an air of apprehension began to settle over the Memorial Centre.
But the Royals hung tough, leaving their home crowd hoarse.
鈥淚鈥檓 so proud of the guys in front of me,鈥� said Outhouse.
鈥淲e have so many guys injured and out, and others not feeling well, but we dialed in and did it.鈥�
Game 7 was the first time Victoria, which had to tie the series three times, led in it. They sure picked a good time to do it.
