REFLECTIONS: Tips and Royals knotted back up at two games each
Published 1:30 am Wednesday, March 29, 2017
The Game
So now it’s a best-of-three series. The Everett Silvertips and Victoria Royals are all knotted at two games apiece in their best-of-seven Western Conference playoff quarterfinal series following Victoria’s 2-1 win Wednesday on Vancouver Island.
.@victoriaroyals eke out a 2-1 win & this series is all knotted up after Game 4. #EVTvsVIC #WHLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/h7IYeJNG9G
— #WHLPlayoffs (@TheWHL) March 30, 2017
The teams will play at Xfinity Arena Friday and then Sunday afternoon back at Victoria for a matinee. If necessary Game 7 is next Tuesday at Xfinity Arena.
The Tips held a distinct shot advantage, at 31-20 as they outshot Victoria for the first time all series. However the Tips haven’t scored a goal five-on-five since Game 2 as Everett’s lone tally Wednesday came on a late power play.
In fact, seven of the 10 goals the Tips have scored in this series have been on power plays. The reason Everett earned the split in Victoria? The penalty kill held Victoria 0-for-6 in the last two games after the Royals scored four times on seven man advantages in the first two games.
Patrick Bajkov and Dominic Zwerger are each having a tremendous series. Bajkov has four goals and four assists while Dominic Zwerger has two goals and six assists. Kevin Davis is also performing well with a goal and five assists. Beyond that the offensive productions drops off significantly. Matt Fonteyne has a goal and an assist while just five other players have a point.
.@patrickbajkov converts on the PP. @WHLsilvertips are on the board & it’s 2-1. Don’t go anywhere, folks! #EVTvsVIC #WHLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/YaX4l4HHRl
— #WHLPlayoffs (@TheWHL) March 30, 2017
That is no doubt due to missing centers Riley Sutter and Devon Skoleski who have yet to appear in the series. Sutter skated during warmups and was a late scratch, so his return appears to be imminent. However Skoleski seems likely not to play Friday.
Connor Dewar had an apparent goal waved off in the third period. In his postgame radio interview assistant coach Mitch Love said Tips forward Sean Richards was cross-checked into Victoria goalie Griffen Outhouse, causing the incidental contact that disallowed Dewar’s goal. My online feed cut out right at that time so I didn’t get to see the play and can’t offer an opinion.
Bonus
Here’s the view from the other side.
The Turning Point
The Royals scored with just 46 seconds remaining in the second period when Matthew Phillips found Dante Hannoun at the front of the net. That turned a 1-0 lead into a two-goal advantage and ultimately proved the winning tally.
Three Stars
1. Victoria G Griffen Outhouse:
The netminder saved 30 of 31 shots.
2. Victoria F Regan Nagy: Nagy scored the game’s first goal.
3. Victoria F Matthew Phillips: The diminutive dynamo set up the game-winner from behind the net.
