Thursday 16 October 2014

Recap: VIC 2 - EDM 3

Edgars Kulda’s short handed goal in the second period stood to be the winner as the visiting Victoria Royals (4-6-1-0) fell 3-2 to the reigning Memorial Cup champions, the Edmonton Oil Kings (5-3) Wednesday night.

Edmonton held period leads of 2-0 and 3-1, while outshooting Victoria 30-22.

Once again, you spot a team 3 goals it’s hard to come back, especially a team that’s won the Memorial Cup.  They know how to win.” said Head Coach Dave Lowry,

“I like the way stayed in the game after, the way we competed, but we have make sure we put ourselves in better positions.” 

The Royals went 0 for 6 on the power play, including 4 first period opportunities,  They shut down all 5 Oil Kings man advantages.

We had opportunities to score on the power play but the difference was we didn’t…we win in Red Deer because the power play scores, tonight it didn’t score and it ends up costing us.” Said Lowry

Tristan Jarry earned his 4th win with 20 saves, while Evan Smith, in his first WHL start made 27 saves in the loss.

The Oil Kings scored just 1:04 into the opening period.

“We had good energy in the room, good energy on the bench, we just came out flat right off the bat.” said 16 year old forward Jared Dmytriw, who drew the opposition into two penalties.

“It’s not like we played bad today, we just made a few mistakes and they capitalized.  Overall we had a pretty good outing but, we just find a way to bury it, and not let teams get away from us right at the beginning.”

Victoria (4-6-1-0) is now 2-2 on their 6 game in 9 night Central Division road trip, with the wins in Calgary and Red Deer, and the other loss came in Medicine Hat.

The Royals held the edge in shots in the first and the third, but the Oil Kings had a 19-7 advantage in the middle frame as the teams exchanged goals.

Brandon Pollock scored twice in the first for Edmonton while Victoria got goals from Austin Carroll in the second, and Joe Hicketts with 2 seconds remaining.

Carroll extended his point streak to 9 games, (8g 6a) with 14 points, and his league high goal scoring streak to 8 games with 8 goals, tied for 2nd in the WHL.

Hicketts is tied for 2nd in defenseman scoring with 11 points, 3 back of the Rockets Madison Bowey.

Victoria travels Thursday to Lethbridge for the game Friday, and face Kootenay Saturday before returning home.

Last year, the Royals swept the three-game season series against the Hurricanes, outscoring Lethbridge 14-4 (winning 4-0, 4-3 and 6-1).

-Marlon Martens

Victoria Royals 2 at Edmonton Oil Kings 3 - Status: Final
Wednesday, October 15, 2014 - Rexall Place - Edmonton, AB

Victoria 0 1 1 - 2
Edmonton 2 1 0 - 3

1st Period-
1, Edmonton, Pollock 3 (Robertson, Benson), 1:04.
2, Edmonton, Pollock 4 (Robertson, Carroll), 10:53.

Penalties-Mills Edm (roughing), 2:08; Eller Edm (interference), 5:39; Brown Vic (cross checking), 9:51; Irving Edm (holding), 10:25; Bauer Edm (too many men), 13:58; Hicketts Vic (tripping), 19:16.

2nd Period-
3, Edmonton, Kulda 2   3:30 (SH).
4, Victoria, Carroll 8   16:29.

Penalties-Mills Edm (tripping), 2:35; Gagnon Vic (roughing), 5:51; Brown Vic (hooking), 13:49; Robertson Edm (hooking), 17:55.

3rd Period-
5, Victoria, Hicketts 4 (Fisher), 19:58.

Penalties-Hicketts Vic (delay of game), 17:53.

Shots on Goal-
Victoria 8-7-7-22.
Edmonton 6-19-5-30.

Power Play Opportunities-
Victoria 0 / 6;
Edmonton 0 / 5.

Goalies-
Victoria, Smith 1-1-0-0 (30 shots-27 saves).
Edmonton, Jarry 4-3-0-0 (22 shots-20 saves).

A-3,807
Referees-Adam Bloski (16), Adam Byblow (23).
Linesmen-Chris Carlson (92), Scott Fulmer (32).