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B.C. Division, Insight, WHL Playoffs

Victoria Royals offense returns in Game 4 win over the Vancouver Giants

Written by Ryan Sinclair on

The Royals saw their offense return in Game 4 as they defeated the Giants 7-3 on Thursday.  Not surprising, the victory coincided with the return of Tyler Soy, the team’s number one centre and all-time franchise leader for most goals. Soy’s return to the top line for Victoria helped propel the Royals to a key Game 4 win in the series, as he recorded his first ever playoff hat-trick.

While Victoria received a boost with Soy’s return to the lineup, the Giants were a little thin on the blueline as Matt Barberis joined Darian Skeoch on the suspended list. Barberis was given a one game suspension for a cross-checking major last game, while Skeoch was serving the last of his three game banishment. Given the added offensive spark combined with the softened Vancouver defensive corps, the Royals were able to solve Giants goalie David Tendeck, who was spectacular in Game 3.

Matthew Phillips kicked off the scoring by showing he can get it done at both ends of the ice. First blocking a shot in his own end, the Royals captain jumped in the rush, took a feed from Noah Gregor and fired it home to open the scoring at 7:18. Surprisingly, it was Phillips’ first goal of the series after being held mostly in check for the first three games versus Vancouver.

Victoria added to their lead as Tarun Fizer dug the puck out from behind the net and fed the point to Ralph Jarratt. Jarratt fired a perfectly placed wrister on net, picking the corner through four players in front of Tendeck to put Victoria up 2-0 at 13:52.

Tyler Soy made it 3-0 while Victoria was on a 5-on-3 powerplay at 17:44. The Royals patiently moved it around to find Soy, who fired it from the top of the circle to beat Tendeck up high.

The first period saw a very good start for the Royals, who stayed disciplined and capitalized on their opportunities. First period shots were 11 to 5 for Victoria.

Dylan Plouffe ripped a shot to the top shelf over the glove of Outhouse to get the Giants on the scoreboard early in the second.  The goal at 1:33 came with one second remaining on a powerplay for Vancouver.

A turnover by the Royals at their own blueline allowed Tyler Benson to feed Davis Koch who beat Outhouse and make it 3-2. The goal at 7:20 capped a stretch where Vancouver took over momentum from Victoria, recovering after they were mostly dominated in the first period.

Outhouse tracks the puck in Game 4
(credit: @Fedyck_Fotos)

Victoria was able to regather themselves in the back-half of the period and turned the pressure back towards the Giants. A scramble in front of Tendeck saw the goalie unable to find the puck as it went to Dante Hannoun who was able to bury it into an open net at 12:22.

Soy scored his second power play goal of the game at 13:54, similar to his first as the Royals worked the puck around and he buried it to make it 5-2 for Victoria.

Vancouver had a late period chance to swing the momentum yet again as the Royals were called for two penalties at 19:12. While unable to score before the period wound down, the Giants would have fresh ice and the two-man advantage to start the third.

 

Victoria were able to weather the Giants offense to start the third period, killing off the both of the full two minute penalties. Outhouse stood his ground and made many of the clutch saves the Royals are used to getting from the native of Likely, B.C.

From there Victoria carried momentum as Soy recorded the hat-trick after taking a perfect pass from Hannoun to make it 6-2.  Line-mates Hannoun and Phillips showed their chemistry in setting up the goal, allowing Soy to tap it past Tendeck at 3:10. For Soy it was his first career playoff hat-trick.

With the game in hand, it was time for some secondary scoring from the Royals. Jeff De Wit wired a one-timer past Tendeck for a power play goal at 11:52, making it 7-2. It was the third power play goal for Victoria in the game.

The Giants got one back late to make it 7-3, as Jared Dmytriw was able to hack one past Dean McNabb who came in for a resting Outhouse. That goal would be it for the scoring as the Royals defeated the Giants soundly in Game 4.

It was a big bounce-back game for Victoria after losing 5-1 in Game 3, as they came out flying in the first period with three goals.  Outhouse had likely his best game of the series, coming up with key saves and 27 total on the night.

Soy set yet another franchise record with his three goals, now holding the record for most career post-season goals with 17. He passes former Royals forward Jack Walker who help the record at 15 goals.

In a series where momentum has swung heavily for each team, the Giants will look to recapture some steam in Game 5 and will be aided by the return of Barberis and Skeoch. While the score looked lop-sided on Tuesday, the Royals were happy with their play, stuck to a familiar game plan for Game 4 and had it pay off on Thursday. Victoria will look to build on an impressive victory where they saw their top line ignite with Soy, Phillips and Hannoun all having a multi-point game.

Game 5 heads back to Vancouver Island with the series tied 2-2. These two teams will battle again Saturday night at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Arena in Victoria with puck drop at 7:05.

Game Notes:

  • Soy looked to hurt himself after wrestling with Tyler Benson, and went to the dressing room looking uncomfortable. It remains to be seen if he re-aggravated the injury that kept him out of the first three games of the series, however the Royals said after the game that his leaving was likely precautionary.
  • Dante Hannoun set the franchise record for most points in a single playoff game with a goal and four assists.
  • The goal in the first period for Jarratt was his first WHL playoff goal in 30 playoff games played
  • Victoria is now 20-2-1-0 when leading after one period for this season and post-season, and 2-0 in the series when up after the first period  (Source: WHL Stats Pro)
  • 61 goal regular season star Ty Ronning was again held scoreless, now without a goal in four games. He does have five assists in the series.