Victoria Royals rediscover winning ways
Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown, Shakespeare wrote. The Victoria Royals, who lost twice since being named the No. 1 team in the Canadian Hockey League, can relate.
But what did Shakespeare have to say about bounce-back games?
The Royals (8-1-1) climbed out of their two-game doldrums with a 6-1 victory over the Seattle Thunderbirds on Saturday night before 4,055 fans at ShoWare Center in Kent, Washington.
“This was an important response after the last two games,” said Royals head coach Dan Price.
“The guys corrected some things and played more solid, fundamental hockey.”
This is no doubt a rebuilding season for the Thunderbirds after winning their first Western Hockey League title in 40 years last spring.
Graduated to the pros are Mathew Barzal, Ryan Gropp, Keegan Kolesar, Ethan Bear and Alexander True to leave this season’s youthful T-Birds at a still-respectable 4-3-1 to start.
Two power-play goals by the elusive Matthew Phillips, both assisted by Tyler Soy, gave the Royals a 2-1 lead in the first period after Nolan Volcan of Seattle had opened scoring.
Russian import Yan Khomenko hit Jared Legien for a breakaway goal to make it 3-1 for Victoria at 15:51 of the second period. Regan Nagy’s ninth goal of the season and Soy’s fourth goal and 13th point, in the five games since being returned from the Anaheim Ducks pro organization, extended that in the third period. Blueliner Jared Freadrich added the third power-play goal of the evening on Victoria’s potent odd-man. The Royals’ penalty kill held Seattle 0-4. Victoria’s explosive offence kept pace with its league-leading 6.2 goals-per-game average. Two of the goals, by Legien and Soy, came on breakaways.
“The guys are in good position above the puck, even when we don’t have possession,” Price said.
Victoria goaltender Griffen Outhouse, pulled in the 8-6 loss the previous night in Spokane, responded with a 26-save performance Saturday before being relieved for a rest by Dean McNabb, who blocked five shots in garbage time. Matt Berlin made 24 saves in the Seattle net.
“It was also a big bounce-back game for Griffen [Outhouse],” Price said.
ICE CHIPS: It was old home week for Royals blueliner Anthony Bishop, a part of Seattle’s league championship team last season, and former Royals forward Blake Bargar of the Thunderbirds . . . Victoria completed the second fixture of its seasonlong, seven-game road swing, which continues Wednesday in Edmonton against the Oil Kings.