Royals surge in third period to defeat the Silvertips

The Victoria Royals (22-15-3-1) started 2018 at home against the Everett Silvertips (23-15-1-1) Friday at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre. The Royals have fallen on hard times, only victorious in three game of their last ten. Victoria had been very active recently on the trade front, looking to revive and regroup for a playoff push. Everett on the other hand, was on a surge as they had won eight of their last ten. The Silvertips have not missed a beat with star goaltender Carter Hart away playing for Team Canada at the World Junior Tournament, using a blend of defensive and disciplined hockey. Victoria looked to reignite their power-play but faced the league’s top penalty killing team in Everett.

The first period saw a some great action with some physical play and good chances at each end. Newly acquired forward Andrei Grishakov was the most dangerous looking Royals player of the period. In his first game after being acquired from the Calgary Hitmen, the Russian import showed speed, skill and initial chemistry with line mates Dante Hannoun and Dino Kambeitz.

For Everett, 16-year-old goalie Dustin Wolf was the Silvertips top player of the first, making a big save as time winded down to keep it scoreless.  First period shots were 12-7 for Everett.

The equally matched play continued for much of the second period.  The game began to give flashbacks of the Silvertips defeating the Royals in the fifth OT of what was the longest game in CHL history. Hard work was rewarded for Royals forward Braydon Buziak, as he scored on a rebound after wrapping it around the net.  The goal at 16:05 came with assists to Kaid Oliver and Scott Walford and put Victoria up 1-0. It was the lone marker of the period, and final shots were 22-16 for the Tips.

Victoria struck immediately to start the third as Jeff De Wit scored 17 seconds in. De Wit snapped a shot past Wolf’s glove side to make it 2-0, with assists going to Buziak and Oliver. The Royals checking line was in on both Victoria goals and were rewarded by head coach Dan Price with more ice time. A quick transition led to a 3-0 goal by Hannoun as Tyler Soy carried it into the Everett zone to start the play. Matthew Phillips made the pass to Hannoun but was leveled in the process and went down heavily. Phillips bounced back and made it 4-0 at 9:37, using his fast hands to shovel in a bouncing puck to notch his 29th goal. Wolf’s night was done and Everett put in their other 16-year-old goalie Danton Belluk.  Grishakov then scored his first with Victoria at 17:40 to make it 5-0, adding to his solid debut with the Royals and finished the scoring. Final shots were 36-29 for the Tips.

The Royals exploded in the third period to score four unanswered goals. Griffen Outhouse picked up the shutout, and continued his fine play.  Victoria got some secondary scoring from some of their newly acquired players and managed to avoid penalty trouble. All goals scored for the Royals were at even strength.

Victoria now immediately travels for a BC Division battle against the Kamloops Blazers on Saturday. Everett will return home to face their US Division Rival the Portland Winterhawks.