EVERETT聽 4
VICTORIA聽 2
Everett leads series 1-0
As the eighth and last seed in the Western Conference, the Victoria Royals know they need to bust a few brackets to make a statement in the 2017 WHL playoffs. But those brackets proved to be sturdy on the opening night of the post-season as the conference top-ranked Everett Silvertips defeated the Royals 4-2 to take a 1-0 lead in their best-of-seven first-round series.
All four of Victoria鈥檚 late-season injured players 鈥� forwards Ryan Peckford and Regan Nagy, and defencemen Ralph Jarratt and Chaz Reddekopp 鈥� returned to the lineup Friday before 3,241 fans at Xfinity Arena in Everett, Washington.
Each made near immediate imprints. Reddekopp, who looked to be favouring his previously broken foot upon returning to practice this week, received the penalty that allowed Kevin Davis to open the series scoring on the Everett power play at 8:11 of the first period.
Victoria鈥檚 counter thrusts in the first period were met by Silvertips goaltender Carter Hart, who got a piece of the puck as Jarratt looked to have an open net. Victoria began the second period with a 6-1 shots advantage, but Hart made a stirring save off Peckford.
Maybe one those chances could have turned the tide for Victoria. As it was, the roof caved in, with three consecutive Everett goals. The killer was Patrick Bajkov鈥檚 against-the-grain wrister that made it 2-0 at 12:04 of the second. Bajkov is from Nanaimo and led the Silvertips in both goals this season with 29 and points with 78.
It鈥檚 near impossible to rally from a four-goal deficit against the Silvertips, the best defensive team in the WHL.
鈥淎 couple of mistakes in the second period cost us,鈥� Royals coach Dave Lowry said.
鈥淚t allowed them to build momentum and that was the difference. I said going in, the team that breaks during a crucial stretch of the game, doesn鈥檛 win.鈥�
Five-season veteran Jack Walker finally got Victoria on the board at 19:03 of the second period for his 13th career playoff goal to tie Brandon鈥檚 Magee franchise record. Dante Hannoun scored at 14:58 of the third. Both Victoria goals were on the power play. Walker assisted on Hannoun鈥檚 goal to tie Magee鈥檚 franchise record for most career playoff points with 29.
Hart, a second-round NHL draft pick of the Flyers who backstopped sa国际传媒 to the silver medal at the 2017 world junior championships, made 30 saves as Victoria pressed him. Griffen Outhouse made 21 saves for Victoria.
The Silvertips were 44-16-12 in the regular season and are now 7-2-2 in their last 11 games. The Royals were 37-29-6 in the regular season and went into the playoffs reeling and are now in an eight-game winless freefall.
