The Victoria Royals have their opponents’ number.
It is nine.
The Royals tied the franchise record for most goals in a game for the second consecutive game with a 9-2 Western Hockey League victory over the Swift Current Broncos on Friday night before 4,962 fans at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre.
It has now been done three times in franchise history, including the 9-3 win over the Saskatoon Blades on Tuesday at the Memorial Centre.
The Royals led 5-1 after the first period in both games. Both those outbursts tied the franchise record for most goals in a period. That has been done eight times in team history, including now in the last two games.
The 18 overall goals set a franchise record for most goals in two successive games, eclipsing the previous standard of 16 established last season.
Including the 6-1 victory in Edmonton last Friday, the Royals have outscored their opponents 24-6 in their last three games. Perhaps it wasn’t surprising all three games were against Eastern Conference teams, against whom the Royals have been absolutely masterful at 19-1-1 in their last 21 games.
“We’re rolling four lines and each line has been clicking,” said Victoria forward Dante Hannoun, whose scored two goals, one on the power play, and added an assist to extend his points streak to eight games.
The points have been distributed widely during the Royals recent tsunami of scoring.
“All four lines are contributing. There’s a good mojo in the room when lots of guys are chipping in,” said Victoria forward Matthew Phillips, who had a goal and two assists.
Two 16-year-old Royals — rookie forward Eric Florchuk and rookie defenceman Mitchell Prowse — scored their first career WHL goals. Veteran Russian-import defenceman Marsel Ibragimov scored his first goal of the season.
Previously unheralded 17-year-old forward Ryan Peckford, who on Tuesday against Saskatoon set the franchise record for most points in a game with six, continued on his tear with a goal and two assists Friday.
Other Victoria goals came from Phillips, Regan Nagy and Jack Walker, the latter three on the power play.
The Victoria power play scored four goals after recording three in each of the previous two games, the first time in franchise history the team has recorded three or more power-play games in three consecutive games. This after the odd-man started the season stone cold.
“I knew we had to be patient with the power play,” said Royals coach Dave Lowry. “Now we are creating opportunities and capitalizing. I like how we’re bringing pucks and bodies to the net. We’re getting rewarded for that, and that gets to be contagious.”
Royals starter Griffen Outhouse made 25 saves. Broncos starter Taz Burman did not survive the first-period Victoria onslaught and was replaced by Travis Child after allowing five goals. The Royals finished with 47 shots on net.
The defending league regular-season champion Royals, who began tepidly at 1-3, are now 7-5. The Broncos fell to 8-4-1 in their 50th anniversary season.
The Royals complete the home set tonight against the Everett Silvertips (8-2-3).
