Recap | Feb. 24 | Winterhawks (5) @ Royals (2)
Victoria, BC – For the second time in as many nights, the Victoria Royals (27-24-4-4) played host to the Portland Winterhawks (39-14-2-1) at the Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre in a Saturday evening showdown. Victoria aimed to bounce back following their 6-2 loss to the Winterhawks on Friday. 17-year-old Jayden Kraus earned the start for Victoria, while the Winterhawks countered with Jan Špunar for the second straight night.
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The game started off with an energetic start as Teydon Trembecky and Tyson Yaremko settled their differences from the night prior with an early altercation at centre ice which brought the crowd of 4,000 plus to their feet as the arena came to life. Shortly after that, Portland would open the scoring. It was Detroit Red Wings prospect, Nate Danielson (18) burying one to give the Winterhawks the lead. The product of Red Deer, AB, parked himself in front of the Royals’ net and re-directed a Marcus Nguyen shot over the glove of Kraus.
Victoria would find themselves short-handed twice in the period with Justin Kipkie and Tanner Scott each sitting for two minutes, but the home-side was perfect on the penalty-kill as the shorthanded unit did their part. Neither side would find a way through in the remaining portion of the first, giving Portland a one goal cushion heading into the second.
Early in the second, the Winterhawks would strike again, this time it was blueliner Carter Sotheran (9) scoring for the road side as they extended their lead to a pair. His ninth of the season was set up by Kyle Chyzowski and Diego Buttazzoni as the three linked up to beat Kraus.
This seemed to awaken the Royals as they queued the comeback efforts. Deegan Kinniburgh (5) placed himself in front of the Witnerhawks net and showcased quick hands as he batted home a loose puck between the five-hole of Špunar to pull the Royals within one. Dawson Pasternak earned his team-leading 61st point on the season with the primary assist, while Justin Kipkie drew the secondary assist.
Just four minutes later, it was the Royals finding an equalizer. Tyson Laventure (26) continued his brilliant run as he found the back of the net for the third straight game. The power forward started the play with his tenacious forecheck as he poked the puck free from Josh Mori before dashing towards the net and finishing off a pass from Cole Reschny. Seth Fryer added the secondary assist as he earned his seventh point of the season.
The Winterhawks responded quickly to the momentum swing from Victoria, as they restored their two goal advantage. Firstly, it was Diego Buttazzoni (25) notching his second point of the evening before Tyson Jugnauth (7) grabbed his second in as many nights to make it 4-2 in favour of Portland.
That would be the scoreline heading into the final frame, with Portland outshooting the Royals 32-15 through forty minutes of play.
Victoria would make a change in net after the second as Braden Holt found himself back in action coming in to replace Jayden Kraus for the final frame.
Portland would add their fifth of the evening as they extended their lead to three goals with Gabe Klassen (32) scoring with seven minutes to go in the period. The unassisted goal from Klassen was his eighth goal in his previous nine games as the 20-year-old continues his career-best season.
That would be the final tally of the evening as the Winterhawks knocked down the Royals 5-2.