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Victoria Royals bounce back in series against Portland Winterhawks

VICTORIA 2 PORTLAND 1 Considering only two teams have rallied from a 3-0 deficit in a best-of-seven playoff series since the founding of the Western Hockey League in 1966, the Victoria Royals really had no option but to win Monday night against a sta

VICTORIA 2  PORTLAND 1

Considering only two teams have rallied from a 3-0 deficit in a best-of-seven playoff series since the founding of the Western Hockey League in 1966, the Victoria Royals really had no option but to win Monday night against a starry Portland Winterhawks team that heading in had won 13 straight and 34 of its last 35 games.

And win they did. The Royals climbed back into their Western Conference semifinal against the Winterhawks with a 2-1 victory in Game 3 before 6,505 raucous fans at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre to cut Portland’s series lead to 2-1.

The only category in which the Royals had an advantage leading into this series — goaltending — finally came to the fore with Patrick Polivka particularly sharp with 38 saves. He only missed the shutout by 13.6 seconds when Portland finally broke through on a last-gasp goal by Taylor Leier.

“That’s not a big deal [losing the shutout so late] … we won,” said Polivka.

The victory was also built on two early power-play goals and a furious Victoria fore-check that seemed to keep the usually-potent Winterhawks — who scored the most WHL regular-season goals in 16 years — off kilter. That and Victoria’s relentless shot blocking all night that aided Polivka greatly.

“It was a real gritty performance,” said Victoria head coach Dave Lowry.

“We believe we have a chance. [Polivka] was great and our special teams were good [Victoria’s penalty kill held Portland 0-4]. To win in the playoffs you need good goaltending and solid special teams. Tonight, we got it all.”

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The conference second-seed Winterhawks won the first two games 8-2 and 6-3 at home over the weekend. Game 4 is tonight at the Memorial Centre and Game 5 on Thursday at the Moda Center in Portland. Game 6, if required, is Saturday back on Blanshard. A Game 7, if needed would be next Monday at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Portland.

The WHL is made up of junior players, but several of the Portland Winterhawks are already at least minor-pro level with a roster that includes four WHL top-20 scorers and several potential NHLers. Victoria clearly needed to land the first blow Monday night, and did.

The Royals got the start they needed when Brandon Magee scored on the power play 2:39 into the game for his third goal of the playoffs.

That was followed by another power-play goal at 9:24 as Logan Nelson stayed with the puck behind the net, sliding it to Austin Carroll who tapped it home for his fifth post-season goal that eventually stood as the winner.

“Every one of our guys definitely showed up to play … our skill guys are not afraid [to get down and greasy in the trenches],” said Magee.

“We’ve got to be able to come back and do it again [tonight in Game 4].”

The game ended with Magee part of a multi-player scuffle behind the Victoria goal as Portland’s final press to the net fell just short.

“They obviously had the power-play advantage tonight and took advtange of it early in the game,” said Portland forward Leier.

“Give them credit. They played well.”

The victor of this series advances to meet the winner of the other Western Conference semifinal series, led 2-0 by the top-seed Kelowna Rockets over the fourth-seed Seattle Breakers.

ICE CHIPS: The Royals were without six-foot-five Calgary Flames-signed defenceman Keegan Kanzig, who was suspended for Games 2-3 because of an incident which occurred in the 8-2 loss in Game 1 at Portland . . . Those are literally big skates to fill as rookie Chaz Reddekopp drew in but was used sparingly. … It was the first WHL playoff game past the first round played in Victoria since the Cougars and Winterhawks met in the 1983 Western Conference final. The only thing missing was Mark Morrison, Russ and Geoff Courtnall, Ken Yaremchuk and Cam Neely.

cdheensaw@timescolonist.com