It took a while, but a depleted Vancouver Giants team finally solved new Victoria Royals netminder Braden Holt and then the visitors pulled out a 4-3 shootout win on Friday night at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre.
Holt, acquired by the Royals earlier in the week from the Everett Silvertips for disgruntled netminder Tyler Palmer, shut out the Giants 3-0 in his Royals debut on Wednesday at the Langley Events Centre.
And he held the Giants off the scoresheet Friday until late in the second period. Vancouver, playing without leading scorer Samuel Honzak (Slovakia) and captain Zack Ostapchuk (Canada), who are both away at the world junior championship in Halifax and Moncton, got their offence going when Julian Cull and Mazden Leslie scored in the final three minutes of the period to draw the Giants even with the Royals at 2-2. Kalem Parker and Jake Poole scored in the first period to give the Royals a 2-0 lead.
The Giants then got a Carson Haynes goal with six minutes left in the third period that quieted the home crowd of 4,165. But a minute later, Teydon Trembecky drew the home team even, beating Las Vegas Golden Knights draft pick Jesper Vikman in the Giants net.
After overtime solved nothing, Teague Patton and Ty Halaburda beat Holt in the shootout, while Jayden Lipinski and Poole were stymied by Vikman.
The Royals fall to 8-24-3-1, while the Giants improve to 14-16-4-2.
The Royals get the weekend off and then hit the road for three straight games beginning Tuesday night in Kelowna against the Rockets. Then Victoria heads south for games next Friday in Spokane and Saturday in Kennewick, Washington, against the Tri-City Americans.
LOOSE PUCKS: The Royals were again without injured captain Gannon Laroque but the San Jose Sharks-signed defenceman is close to returning and could see action on Tuesday in Kelowna.
