It was the WHL鈥檚 all-monarchist power-couple meeting Friday as Victoria and Prince Albert were reunited. Well, at least the hockey teams representing their namesake cities.
In keeping with the theme, it was a Royal night all-around as the Victoria Royals defeated the host Prince Albert Raiders 3-2 before 2,331 fans. But it was a Russian connection that provided the winner as Vladimir Bobylev scored at 2:08 of overtime.
Both of Victoria鈥檚 regulation-time goals came on the previously-struggling odd-man, as Alex Forsberg initiated scoring at 2:17 of the second period, and defenceman Joe Hicketts scored his first goal of the season to tie it 2-2 at 11:49 of the third period. Forsberg and Hicketts finished with points each on the game.
鈥淥ur power play coming in was only operating at 7.7 per cent on the road and I challenged it to be better,鈥� said Royals coach Dave Lowry.
Victoria snapped Prince Albert鈥檚 seven-game winning streak and sent the No. 4-ranked team in the Canadian Hockey League to 11-3-1 with its first home loss of the season. That鈥檚 still not bad for a franchise that has missed the playoffs nine times in the past 15 seasons, including last season. The turnaround represents a career resurgence for Prince Albert coach Marc Habscheid, who was relieved of the Royals coaching and GM duties following the 2011-12 season.
Victoria (9-5-1) has taken five of a possible six points in its last three games.
But a couple of issues that have partly defined the early season for the Royals 鈥� goals allowed late in periods and hot opposition goaltenders 鈥� again came to the fore to almost derail the Royals. Victoria dominated but went into the second break trailing 2-1 on a goal by Raiders defenceman Jesse Lees with just seven seconds remaining in the middle period.
鈥淏ut we stuck with it and found a way in the third period and overtime against the top team in the league and top-five in the country,鈥� said Lowry.
The Royals held an 18-3 shots advantage after one period and 33-15 after two en route to an overall 49-24 advantage. Prince Albert goaltender Rylan Parenteau was named the first star, while Coleman Vollrath started for Victoria.
鈥淲e came ready to play and had a great first period,鈥� said Lowry.
This opened the Royals鈥� 5,000-plus-kilometre, six-game swing through Saskatchewan and Manitoba. It continues with a Sunday matin茅e in Saskatoon.
