Royals prepare for Regina; Grizzlies for Coquitlam
GAME DAY: VICTORIA AT REGINA 6 p.m. at the Brandt Centre TV: None / Radio: The Zone 91.3 FM
Sure it’s true that Matthew Phillips stands just a little taller than most water coolers, but the Calgary Flames draft pick continues to prove he has ice water running through his veins.
Phillips, who stands five-footseven (which might even be a tiny stretch), scored his 10th goal of the Western Hockey League season and second game-winner for the Victoria Royals on Wednesday in a 3-2 overtime victory in Edmonton.
It had plenty of hockey fans talking around those very same water coolers as he once again displayed his slick skills.
Phillips, who led the league in points heading into Thursday’s action with 26, now leads the 9-1-1-0 Royals into Regina tonight to face the 6-4-1-0 Pats.
Late in the overtime Wednesday, Phillips picked Edmonton Oil Kings’ defenceman Trey FixWolansky’s ill-advised cross-ice pass from out of the air. The Calgary native then shiftly deposited the puck through goalie Travis Child’s pads to end it with five seconds left in the extra session.
It was classic Phillips, who continues to display his quick hand-eye co-ordination and silky soft mitts.
“The greatest thing about Matthew is his perseverance,” Royals coach Dan Price said of his captain. “It was very evident [Wednesday] night. He never quits. He never gives up.
“He works at it, on the ice and off the ice,” Price added of Phillips’ hand-eye co-ordination. “So it’s no surprise to me that he executes in such moments. He did a really good job of reading that play.
“He thought the pass would likely be in the air. He executed the interception and executed the goal,” Price said of his sniper who hopes to eventually score goals for the Calgary Flames in the same Rogers Place rink (home of the Oilers) he tallied in on Wednesday.
That may or may not be a tall order for the diminutive forward, but his talent and heart certainly don’t fall short. Phillips, who also had an assist on Wednesday, extended his point streak to 11 games.
“For him, he’s just focused on getting better. For him, that’s what it’s all about,” stressed Price.
The team is also focused on getting better defensively, as a group.
“Everyone feels we need to improve defensively and a good example of that was just before the winning goal Griffen [goalie Griffen Outhouse] made, what I feel is the save of the year right on our doorstep,” Price said of his goalie’s ability to stretch to his right and get a pad on Davis Koch’s effort.
Outhouse turned in a 44-save performance, including 18 in the third period, for his eighth win of the season and the 60th of his WHL career. He is playing in his 100th game tonight.
The Royals have now reached the midway point of their sevengame road trip that takes them through Washington, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and eventually back home to B.C. Victoria is 2-1 on the trip as they face the Pats, who play host to the Memorial Cup this season.
It’s a quirky schedule that had the Royals play just once in Alberta before returning there next month. The team ventured from Edmonton on Wednesday night into Lloydminster and then continued on to Regina on Thursday.
From Regina (6 p.m. Pacific start) they will head east to Brandon on Saturday before returning to Saskatoon and Prince Albert and then heading home.
NOTES FROM THE THRONE: Veteran Tyler Soy (119G, 129A) is one point away from breaking the Royals’ mark for the most career points at 248. Soy is tied with Jack Walker (101G, 147A) for the team record and is 17 points away from passing former Chilliwack BruinVictoria Royal Brandon Magee (264) for most points in franchise history.