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Tri-City Americans overpower short-staffed Victoria Royals

Two Western Hockey League teams which mirror each other met Wednesday night in Kennewick, Washington. “We’re not the most skilled team in the league.

Two Western Hockey League teams which mirror each other met Wednesday night in Kennewick, Washington.

“We’re not the most skilled team in the league. But we have a willpower that gives us a chance every night,” said Tri-City Americans head coach Kelly Buchberger, during a recent trip to the Island.

The identical can be said for the Victoria Royals, a team without much starry renown, but which has solidly clinched second place in the B.C. Division for home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

The Americans (34-25-4) defeated the Royals (33-26-4) by a 6-3 count before 2,590 fans at the Toyota Center.

Buchberger, the four-season captain and two-time Stanley Cup champion as a player with the Edmonton Oilers, took the Tri-City job after a stint last season as assistant coach of the New York Islanders in the NHL. He has guided the Americans to a post-season berth. Flagging of late, the Amerks ended a five-game winless streak while the Royals had a four-game points streak snapped.

For Royal-watchers monitoring the team’s injury situation — with the playoffs looming and only five games remaining in the regular season — top forwards Kaid Oliver and Kody McDonald and top-four defenceman Matthew Smith did not play Wednesday. Healthy scratches included defencemen Scott Walford and Ralph Jarratt, while veteran goaltender Griffen Outhouse sat in reserve.

The first period ended 2-2 as Phillip Schultz and Carson Miller scored for Victoria, while Paycen Bjorklund and Dom Schmeimann replied for Tri-City.

The game was tied 3-3 before the Americans took a 4-3 lead into the third period on goals by Riley Sawchuk and Sasha Mutala in the second period while D-Jay Jerome replied for Victoria.

Sawchuk, on a power-play goal, and Mitchell Brown with an empty-netter put it away for Tri-City in the third period.

Rookie goaltender Brock Gould made 25 saves for the Victoria and veteran Beck Warm 20 for Tri-City.