VICTORIA 5 (SO)
VANCOUVER 4
The Victoria Royals were pretty in pink for the team鈥檚 annual fundraiser for breast cancer, which drew a sellout crowd of 7,006 to Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre on Saturday. Danish international Phillip Schultz鈥檚 shootout goal gave the Royals a dramatic 5-4 Western Hockey League victory over the Vancouver Giants.
After being shut out 4-0 by the Giants on Friday at the Langley Events Centre, Royals head coach Dan Price highlighted a quick start as being key on Saturday. 鈥淕etting the first goal of the game is going to be crucial for us,鈥� he said.
But that didn鈥檛 happen.
Forward Milos Roman, who got to know the Memorial Centre well playing for Slovakia in Group B in the 2019 IIHF world junior championships, scored his 23rd goal of the season to give the Giants a 1-0 lead at 8:48 of the first period.
The goal was assisted by defenceman Bowen Byram, ranked No. 4 among North American skaters for the 2019 NHL draft. The offensively gifted Byram had three assists on the night.
The Royals, however, did not let the disruption of their pre-game plan for an early jump get in the way of a big push back. A productive first four minutes of the second period, with goals by Brandon Cutler and Kody McDonald, put the hosts ahead 2-1.
Victoria forward Dino Kambeitz scored short-handed at 3:22 on a dashing wrap around move that really should have put Vancouver back on its skate blades trailing 3-1.
But goals by Jadon Joseph, on an assist from Byram, and Davis Koch, with his 24th goal of the season, tied the game 3-3 for the Giants.
It was left to Logan Doust to regain the lead for Victoria late in the third. The goal was set up by a steal by Tanner Sidaway off Giants captain and former Royals forward Jared Dmytriw.
But Dmytriw made up for his mistake by tying the game 4-4 with 42 seconds remaining in regulation time.
The Royals鈥� 20-year-old defenceman Ralph Jarratt returned to the roster after missing 10 games due to injury.
鈥淩alph is such a steady and calming presence for us on the blueline, much like Griffen [Outhouse] is for us in the crease,鈥� said Price.
The Royals and Giants conclude their three-games-in-three-days set against each other with a matin茅e this afternoon at the Memorial Centre.
鈥淲e鈥檙e treating it like a mini-playoff series, and I鈥檓 sure Vancouver is, too,鈥� said Price.
鈥淭his is what it鈥檚 going to be like in the playoffs 鈥� the home-and-homes and quick turnarounds.鈥�
The Royals and Giants, however, will not meet in the first round this year as they did last year.
The Giants lead the sa国际传媒 Division at 40-14-4 and have already clinched a playoff berth.
The Royals (31-25-3) are second in the sa国际传媒 Division and have little聽chance of overtaking the Giants.
Victoria, however, is firmly ensconced as the divisional second seed.
Meanwhile, Outhouse was brilliant in winning his 112th career WHL game, seventh on the all-time league goaltender list, and eight behind co-leaders Corey Hirsch and Tyson Sexsmith, who finished with 120 career victories each.
Victoria is 4-4-1 against Vancouver this season in the cross-strait rivalry.
