It has become the new normal for the Victoria Royals.
The Western Hockey League franchise has advanced to the second round of the playoffs for the third consecutive year. It had never won a playoff series in seven seasons previous to that, the first five as the Chilliwack Bruins.
The Royals defeated the Chiefs 6-2 Sunday evening before 3,102 fans in Spokane, Washington, to win their best-of-seven opening-round series 4-2.
The first two games of the second round will be played Thursday and Saturday at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre.
Victoria awaits the winner of the Kelowna Rockets-Kamloops Blazers series, which is tied 3-3, with the seventh and deciding game Monday night in Kelowna.
“I hope it goes to 12 periods of overtime,” quipped Victoria head coach Dave Lowry.
The league regular-season champion Royals, however, negated some of their advantage by necessitating a long trip down to eastern Washington for Game 6 of their series after dropping a 4-1 decision to the Western Conference eighth-seed Chiefs on Friday night in Victoria.
Victoria’s moribund power play, which was only three-for-20 heading into Sunday’s Game 6, finally awoke in Spokane as the Royals scored on three of their five chances to bury the Chiefs. Special teams were the key all-around as the Royals’ short-handed unit held Spokane’s power play zero-for-five.
“We needed our power play to be the difference maker tonight,” said Lowry.
“We made some adjustments and took their shot blockers out of the shooting lanes.”
That was crucial because the Chiefs stole Friday’s fifth game in Victoria by throwing their bodies at the puck to block numerous shots.
“The playoffs are all about making adjustments,” said Lowry.
The always-dangerous Tyler Soy led the Royals with two goals and two assists Sunday while Jack Walker added two goals and one assist. The other goals came from rookies Matthew Phillips and defenceman Scott Walford. Alex Forsberg dished for three assists.
Keanu Yamamoto and defenceman Jordan Henderson scored for an overmatched Spokane team, that took this about as far as it could. Victoria finished with 17 more wins and 31 more points than the Chiefs in the regular season.
Lowry went back with Griffen Outhouse in the nets Sunday despite his spotty outing in Game 5 on Friday. The rookie from Likely, B.C., made 24 saves.
“I make my decisions on what I think gives us the best chance to win,” said Lowry.
Spokane goaltender Lasse Petersen, the difference maker in Friday’s game with 43 saves, could not conjure up the same crease magic Sunday in a 19-save performance.
The Royals were missing injured captain Joe Hicketts for the fifth consecutive game and forward Vladimir Bobylev after he limped off the ice in the third period Friday. Victoria general manager Cam Hope said both players remain day-to-day.
“Guys are going to get their opportunities,” said Lowry, of the lower-end roster players, who have had to step up.
Jared Dmytriw was inserted into the Soy-Walker line to replace Bobylev and he recorded an assist. Lowry said Dmytriw was chosen to move up because he has the speed to keep up with Soy and Walker.
Spokane Spokesman-Review: Victoria eliminates Chiefs with 6-2 victory
