(Victoria, BC) – The Lethbridge Hurricanes (8-12-1-0) came into Save-On-Foods Memorial Arena winless in their last eight games and currently 0-2 on this five-game road trip. The Victoria Royals (16-8-1-0) most recently showed well on the road last weekend with a pair of victories in Spokane and Tri-City and looked to build some momentum at home.
The first period saw each team take advantage of extra open ice as penalties played a factor. On their first powerplay of the evening, the Royals loaded up with all forwards in Soy, Hannoun, Peckford, Legien and Phillips. After a post-save scrum in front of Griffen Outhouse, the teams were four-on-four and the Royals capitalized. Victoria opened the scoring at 8:02 as defenceman Matthew Smith powered home a shot from the point past Stuart Skinner, assists going to Matthew Phillips and Tyler Soy. Lethbridge responded as Ryan Vandervlis recorded his seventh of the year on a nice deke in front, Josh Tarzwell gave him the nice feed at 10:12. Vandervlis pulled the Hurricanes ahead 2-1 as he made a nice tip in front of Outhouse for a powerplay maker at 15:41. Tempers flared at the end of the period as both teams exchanged headlocks and face washes. First period shots were 12-10 for the Hurricanes .
Tyler Soy tied the game at 4:20 of the second, scoring short-handed on a partial breakaway. From there, the wheels fell off for Victoria as they could not stay out of the penalty box and Lethbridge made them pay. Goals from Giorgio Estephan, Calen Addison and the hattrick goal from Vandervlis made it 5-2, chasing Outhouse from the net. His replacement Dean McNabb did not fair any better, as Estephan and Jordy Bellerive scored on him, making it a 7-2 runaway game for the Hurricanes. The period was peppered with scrums and a couple fights, as Victoria was clearly frustrated. Shots were 27-14 for the Hurricanes.
Phillips opened the scoring in the third period while the Royals were on the powerplay, netting his 19th goal of the season. But Victoria could not stop the bleeding as Lethbridge added goals by Zane Franklin, Josh Tarzwell and Tanner Nagel. Chaz Reddkopp added a powerplay maker but it was only a ripple as the final was 10-4 for the visiting Hurricanes.
In what was overall a messy game, both club’s special teams combined for 10 goals (8 PP, 2 SH) and the Hurricanes powerplay went 6 for 11 on the night. Ryan Vandervlis had a four-point night and deservedly was the game’s first star. Final shots were 35-26 for Lethbridge.
Victoria will look to rebound yet again and find some consistency this Friday night as the Seattle Thunderbirds come to town for a weekend pair of games.
