Seattle cannot hold off Victoria as Royals complete comeback in overtime

The 2017-2018 WHL season has been one of change between the Victoria Royals (31-18-3-1) and Seattle Thunderbirds (26-18-4-2). The last four seasons have seen the Thunderbirds dominate the Royals, with 10 wins in 12 meetings. This season has been a different story however, as Victoria has won all three matches against Seattle this season.

Saturday’s meeting at the ShoWare Center in Kent, WA between these two teams would be the fourth and final regular season meeting of this season. The Royals came into tonight’s action with a record of 8-2 in their last 10 games, and started Griffen Outhouse in net after he had a rest the previous night. For Seattle Liam Hughes got the start in net for his 20th game, his previous was a big shoot-out win versus Everett on Jan.27th.

Early in the first period, Victoria had to weather a storm as Seattle controlled the play and out-shot the Royals.  At 8:25 the T-Birds struck first as Matthew Wedman scored a powerplay marker, beating Outhouse and make it 1-0. The remainder of the period saw the teams settle in, with the physical play and hostilities increased. Seattle went 1 for 2 on the powerplay while Victoria was 0 for 2 with the man advantage. First period shots were 15-6 for the Thunderbirds.

The second saw the Royals with a two-man advantage for over a minute and a half. Hughes made some top quality saves including a huge stop on Tyler Soy close on the left side to prevent a powerplay goal. The close action continued through the period, with both teams trading scoring chances and physical play. Austin Strand made it 2-0 while the teams were 4-on-4, came in from the right wall and fired a backhand for a pretty goal at 16:36. Second period shots were 13-10 in favour of Seattle.

The start of the third period saw a couple of dangerous short-handed chances by Matthew Phillips  and Tyler Soy, the latter a breakaway chance denied by Hughes. Tempers finally boiled over as Kaid Oliver and Jarret Tyska dropped the mitts behind the play at 5:30.

Hughes yet again made a massive save against a Royals’ power play, robbing a Noah Gregor point blank shot. Matthew Phillips finally got Victoria on the score-sheet with a breakaway goal at 14:43 to make it 2-1. Just over a minute later, Victoria stunned Seattle and tied the game as Jeff de Wit crashed through the crease and muscled the puck past Hughes. After a quick video review the goal was allowed and de Wit had his 10th marker of the season and the game was 2-2.

With less than two minutes to go, Phillips was hauled down and Victoria went to a late power play. With Victoria unable to get set on the power play, the scored remained tied at the end of regulation and it was off to overtime.

Just past the midway point of overtime, Ralph Jarratt bowled over the Seattle goaltender, giving the T-Birds their eighth powerplay of the game. On the powerplay, Phillips scored the game-winner short-handed after coming in on a 2-on-1 with Tyler Soy. Hughes made the initial huge save on Soy, but Phillips gathered the puck before the goalie had recovered and tucked it home. Victoria completed the comeback, winning their second overtime game in consecutive nights.

Matthew Phillips with 2 goals, including short-handed game winner

The game had a playoff feel to it, as tensions were high throughout and the play was high tempo. Victoria seemed to be ignited by the third period fight by Oliver and carried much of the play in the final frame. Seattle led for close to 55 minutes of the game before Victoria could solve Hughes. Victoria seemed to get stronger as the game went on and saw their pressure pay results.

Victoria now travels to Portland to play the Winterhawks on Feb.7th, then return home to host the Kelowna Rockets for a big BC Division showdown. Seattle stays home and hosts the Tri-City Americans on Feb.6th in a US Division grudge match.