Cougars pounce on Royals early
As hockey games go, this one had just about everything — a six-goal first period; a disputed tally among those six; and a pair of good old-fashioned melees to end the opening two periods, for toppers.
The end result was a 5-3 victory for the visiting Prince George Cougars over the Victoria Royals as the Western Hockey League returned to action following the Christmas hiatus. Both teams were refreshed, but sloppy after a lengthy layoff.
They returned in an offensive mood in a wide-open game of river hockey played before a latearriving crowd of 5,637 at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre. The two teams will do it again tonight at 7:05.
“I think both teams would say it was pretty scrambly, on both sides of the puck,” said Royals head coach Dan Price. “The puck was bouncing and there were weird goals both ways. I think both teams felt that.
“That’s always the way, typically, in the first game back after Christmas. There’s travel and you’re just getting used to playing with your linemates and playing within your team’s structure. Games like that aren’t uncommon in first games back after Christmas.”
The disputed goal — much to the chagrin of the crowd — belonged to P.G.’s Jackson Leppard, who kicked the puck in to tie it at 3-3 at 14:48 of the first, but the rules on that now allow for it. The clarification states that, unless the puck is in the goal crease, a puck that enters the net off of a player’s skate shall be ruled a goal. This one came on the red trim of the blue crease, so it was ruled good.
Both teams came into the contest on three-game losing skids, in fact the Cougars were shut out in their last two. But it took just 3:58 into this one to record their first goal as Joel Lakusta spun and shot from the point to beat a screened Griffen Outhouse in the Royals’ net.
At one point, Outhouse had surrendered three goals on six shots in the wacky first.
The Royals welcomed back a big piece of the puzzle as Dante Hannoun returned to the lineup and he provided a spark with two assists.
“Obviously, it’s nice being back,” said Hannoun. “I thought my linemates and I were clicking and our power play was doing well at the start. I think we just have to bear down on our chances.”
Lakusta (with a pair, including an empty-netter), Leppard, Josh Maser and Nic Holowko all tallied for the Cougars, while Kody McDonald had three assists.
Matthew Phillips, Tyler Soy (who played with a full-face shield after an injury in the final game before Christmas) and Noah Gregor replied for the Royals. Soy and Phillips also had assists and Soy’s helper tied him for the Victoria record for most career assists with Jack Walker, both with 147. The franchise record (both Victoria and Chilliwack) is owned by Brandon Magee with 151.
The Royals played the game with just 18 bodies after a pair of trades made earlier in the day. Regan Nagy remains out of the lineup with a hand injury and Igor Martynov is representing Belarus at the world junior hockey championship in Buffalo. Cougars forward Vladislav Mikhalchuk is also with Belarus.
Tavin Grant made 36 saves for the 13-17-3-2 Cougars, including four good ones off Phillips (three on short-handed situations) as the Royals (20-14-3-0) outshot an opponent for just the third time in the last 13 games. Outhouse stopped 23.
Prince George’s power play stung the Royals yet again, going 2-for-8 on the night and is now 6-for-16 in three games, in which they’ve won twice. Victoria’s power play was also effective, finishing 2-for-7.