Royals slip past Thunderbirds in overtime

Wedman, Strand score in 3-2 loss to Victoria

February 4, 2018 9:30 am
The Thunderbirds’ Donovan Neuls pushes the puck up the ice with the Royals’ Dino Kambeitz in pursuit during WHL play Saturday night. COURTESY PHOTO, Brian Liesse, T-Birds

For the Reporter

The Victoria Royals defeated the Seattle Thunderbirds 3-2 in overtime Saturday night at the accesso ShoWare Center.

Seattle (26-18-5-2) went in front 1-0 at 8:25 of the first period on the power play. Austin Strand sent the puck from the left corner behind the Victoria net and up the right board. Donovan Neuls chased the puck down and got it to Turner Ottenbreit at center ice inside the blue line. Ottenbreit took a wrist shot with traffic in front of Victoria goalie Griffen Outhouse. Matthew Wedman tipped Ottenbreit’s shot over Outhouse’s glove for his 12th goal of the season.

The T-Birds outshot the Royals 15-6 in the first period.

The T-Birds took a 2-0 lead at 16:36 of the second period. Blake Bargar carried the puck up the right wing into the Victoria zone. At the bottom of the right circle Bargar passed the puck to Austin Strand along the boards. Strand cut through the right circle and beat Outhouse with a backhand on the stick side.

Seattle had a 28-16 advantage in shots after outshooting Victoria 13-10 in the second period.

Victoria (32-18-3-1) tied the game 2-2 with two goals in 1:16 late in the third period. Matthew Phillips scored at 14:43 and Jeff de Wit scored at 15:59.

The Royals outshot the T-Birds 14-10 in the third period.

Seattle was awarded a power play when Victoria interfered with goaltender Liam Hughes midway through overtime.

Phillips put back his own rebound on a two-on-one break to get the win for the Royals.

Hughes had 31 saves on 34 shots and his record is now 9-6-2-1.

Outhouse made 38 saves on 30 shots and his record goes to 28-21-3-1.

Next: Tri-City visits

The T-Birds’ next game is Tuesday against the Tri-City Americans at the ShoWare Center at 7:05 p.m. on a Directors Mortgage 2-for-Tuesday.

Single-game tickets are on sale on the T-Birds website and at the ShoWare box office.

SCORING SUMMARY

First period – 1, Seattle, Wedman 11 (Ottenbreit, Neuls), 8:25 (pp). Penalties – Hannoun, Vic (tripping), 8:02. Hamaliuk, Sea (hooking), 9:10. Freadrich, Vic (interference), 16:30. MacLean, Sea (boarding), 17:32. Jensen, Vic (10-minute misconduct), 17:32. Walford, Vic (interference), 20:00.

Second period – 2, Seattle, Strand 12 (Bargar), 16:36. Penalties – Strand, Sea (high-sticking), 4:06. Neuls, Sea (holding), 4:38. Buziak, Vic (high-sticking), 9:28. Walford, Vic (roughing), 15:33. Volcan, Sea (roughing), 15:33. Jarratt, Vic (roughing), 17:27. Tyszka, Sea (roughing), 17:27. Bench, Sea (too many men-served by Philp), 18:21.

Third period – 3, Victoria, Phillips 37 (Jensen, Jarratt), 14:43. 4, Victoria, de Wit 10 (Grishakov, Buziak), 15:59. Penalties – Buziak, Vic (slashing), 1:12. Oliver, Vic (major-fighting), 5:30. Tyszka, Sea (major-fighting), 5:30. Williams, Sea (interference), 7:36. Walford, Vic (interference), 11:34. Freadrich, Vic (cross checking), 16:43. MacLean, Sea (holding), 18:53.

Overtime – 5, Victoria, Phillips 38 (Soy, Walford), 4:22 (sh). Penalties – Jarratt, Vic (goaltender interference), 2:45.

Shots on goal – Seattle 15-13-10-2 40, Victoria 6-10-14-4 34. Goalies – Seattle, Hughes 34 shots-31 saves (9-6-2-1); Victoria, Outhouse 40-38 (28-12-3-1). Power plays – Seattle 1-7; Victoria 0-7. A – 5,356. Referees – Kevin Bennett, Mike Langin. Linesmen – Michael Bean, Nick Bilko.