The Vancouver Giants were looking to continue their recent domination over the Victoria Royals, but their provincial rivals would have nothing to do with it as the visitors pulled out a thrilling 4-3 shootout win Friday night before 3,637 fans at the Langley Events Centre.
Tanner Kaspick notched the game-winner in Round 6 of the shootout as the Royals recorded their fourth straight victory overall and fifth triumph in eight attempts against the Giants, who had won the last three head-to-head clashes.
The two points also moves the Royals one point ahead of Vancouver into second place in the B.C. Division and Victoria now sets its sights on first-place Kelowna tonight at 7 in the Okanagan.
The Rockets were defeated 7-2 in Seattle on Friday and were making the trek back overnight, but sit one point up on Victoria with two games in hand.
As for Vancouver, the team has now gone 10 games without a loss in regulation time, winning seven times and losing three in extra sessions as coach Jason McKee’s troops have found their stride.
Ty Ronning collected goals No. 41 and 42 on the season as the New York Rangers prospect, and son of Cliff Ronning, continues his assault on the Giants’ franchise goal-scoring record of 48 held by Evander Kane.
Ronning knifed a backhand by Griffen Outhouse just 5:23 into the game to get the Giants going. But Dante Hannoun tallied his 19th of the season on a power play at 17:20 of the first period to tie it, just 11 seconds into the man advantage as the Royals were outshot 12-5 over the opening 20 minutes.
It was also Hannoun’s fifth goal in the last four games.
Jeff de Wit continues to Just Do It for the Royals as he gave the team its first lead at 4:48 of the second period. In eight games since he has joined the Royals, the bulky six-foot-three, 210-pound forward has recorded six goals and four assists while playing for his third WHL club this season.
De Wit wired a wrist shot early in the second period to give the Royals that 2-1 lead before Ronning came right back midway through the middle frame. Tyler Soy and Dylan Plouffe traded goals in the third period, setting up overtime and shootout.
Outhouse made 40 saves in regulation time. Giants goaltender David Tendeck saw just 25 shots over 65 minutes of play.
