Victoria Royals head coach Dan Price was asked how important Sunday’s 4-1 victory was in sending a message to the Vancouver Giants ahead of their anticipated first-round Western Hockey League playoff series.
“It was an internal message,” said Price. “It was not for them [Giants]. It was more for us.”
More for a sense of belief that the Royals are capable of beating the hottest team in the WHL, which they did in front of 5,802 fans at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre. It was only Vancouver’s second loss in its last 15 games.
“It was a special win to bounce back like that [after Vancouver won the first two games of the three-game set 3-0 and 6-2],” said Price.
“The guys cared a lot and played as hard as they could with two-thirds of a lineup. We kept the shifts short with nine forwards rolling.”
Victoria was again without seven regulars, six to injuries and forward Carson Miller to the second game of a two-game suspension.
Defenceman Will Warm and forward Brayden Tracey, the latter taken in the first round of the NHL draft by Anaheim more for his offensive skills, led the Royals in blocking numerous shots.
“Brayden competes every night so I’m not surprised to see him blocking shots,” said fellow Victoria forward Brandon Cutler.
The result brought Victoria (31-23-7) into a second-place tie with the Giants (32-22-5) in the B.C. Division, but the Royals have seven games remaining to the Giants’ nine with Vancouver having an easier schedule down the stretch.
“There’s still a lot to play for because home-ice advantage for the playoffs is important,” said Cutler, who led the Royals on Sunday with a goal and two assists.
“We’re not giving up. It’s still a race for home ice.”
Victoria goaltender Adam Evanoff, who was chased from the nets the night before in the 6-2 Vancouver victory, rallied with a standout 33-save performance to be named first star Sunday.
Evanoff knows a short memory is a goaltender’s most important mental attribute.
“Adam would have strangled me if he didn’t get the start [Sunday],” chuckled Price.
“It was his decision, not mine.”
Evanoff, who had a strong showing Friday in the 3-0 loss to the Giants in Langley, was pulled at 2:25 of the second period Saturday night after allowing four goals on just 11 shots.
“I knew I had to be better, and that I couldn’t stew on it, and so I came to the rink [Sunday] with the right mind set,” he said.
Evanoff made the save of the game to deny what looked to be a certain goal for the Giants’ gifted blue-liner Bowen Byram, who was taken fourth overall in the first-round of the 2019 NHL draft by the Colorado Avalanche. As a result, the world junior gold medallist for Canada had his point streak halted. Byram had 26 points in his previous 13 games.
Victoria forward Gary Haden scored his 24th goal on a two-point afternoon, while Swiss rookie Keanu Derungs scored his 15th goal of the season, and fourth against the Giants, Cutler his 17th of the season and Tracey his 20th into an empty net. Tristan Nielsen’s 30th of the season had given Vancouver the lead.
Victoria finished 4-6 in its 10 regular-season games against the Giants.
Victoria plays Saturday and Sunday in Portland against the U.S. Division second-place Winterhawks (42-11-7).
