Tri-City Americans forward Michael Rasmussen showed why he is projected for the first round of the 2017 NHL draft. The Surrey product scored once and assisted on the overtime winner by Kyle Olson to bump his WHL-leading goal total to 12 in a 5-4 victory over the Victoria Royals.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a reason why [Rasmussen] is being looked at so highly. He has skill and size,鈥� said Royals coach Dave Lowry.
Rasmussen鈥檚 theatrics overshadowed Tyler Soy鈥檚 hat trick for Victoria (8-7-1) before 3,435 fans at the Toyota Center in Kennewick, Washington, as the emerging Americans moved to 9-6-1.
Soy now has eight goals on the season.
Soy, with the goaltender pulled for a two-man advantage, tied the game 4-4 at 18:55 of the third period to rescue at least a point for the Royals. It was the seventh consecutive game in which the Victoria power play has connected.
Soy鈥檚 short-handed breakaway goal made it 3-2 at 3:16 of the third period. But that power play became a wash when Rasmussen scored to tie the game at 4:03. The Americans power play struck again to make it 4-3 at 6:24 through Morgan Geekie.
Veteran Jack Walker had three assists for Victoria and defenceman Chaz Reddekopp two. Like Soy, they are NHL draft picks.
鈥淲e stayed with it tonight, salvaged a point, and that鈥檚 a credit to our top guys,鈥� said Lowry.
Dante Hannoun, with a quick release, tied it 2-2 at 1:06 of the third period to extend his goal-scoring streak to three games.
Dylan Myskiw started in goal for Victoria and made 24 saves.
The Royals conclude their four-game road swing tonight in Everett.
