Royals defeat Thunderbirds in second of back-to-back games in Victoria

The Victoria Royals defeated the Seattle Thunderbirds 3-1 in a Western Hockey League game at Save-On-Foods Memorial Arena in British Columbia on Saturday night.

It was the second of back-to-back games in Victoria. The T-Birds defeated the Royals 4-1 Friday.

Seattle jumped out to a 1-0 lead 20 seconds into the game. Henrik Rybinski skated into the right circle and beat Victoria goalie Shane Farkas over the left shoulder. The referees initially ruled no goal as it appeared the puck hit the cross bar and play continued. Just after the puck hit the bar Keltie Jeri-Leon was called for a penalty and play stopped. The referees went to video review and determined that Rybinski’s shot hit the bar in the back of the net and came out quickly.

Owen Williams and Simon Kubicek had the assists on Rybinski’s fourth goal of the season. Jeri-Leon had to serve the penalty and the T-Birds killed it off.

Victoria tied the game 1-1 at 3:21 of the first on a goal by River Fahey. The Royals were having their Teddy Bear Toss game tonight and there was a delay of 15 minutes as the bears and stuffed animals were cleaned up.

Brandon Cutler scored at 4:28 and on the power play at 9:43 of the second period to put Victoria in front 3-1.

Notes

Payton Mount is from Victoria. Friday night in his hometown, Mount had two goals in front of family and friends to help lead the Thunderbirds to a 4-1 win over the Royals. … Goalie Blake Lyda was very good in net for the T-Birds, stopping 35 of 36 shots to get the win. … Newly acquired Max Patterson joined the team in Victoria on Friday morning and had an assist on Mount’s second goal of the game. …

The T-Birds return home game to face the Spokane Chiefs on Tuesday. Face-off is 7:05 p.m. It is a Chick-fil-A 2-for-Tuesday game. All tickets, popcorn, hot dogs and select beverages have special two-for-one prices.

Single-game tickets are on sale online and at the accesso ShoWare Center.

The T-Birds’ holiday premium voucher package is available – 12 flexible vouchers valid for any home game from Jan. 11 to March 21, for $23 a voucher. There are no service charges or other fees to purchase the package. Fans can contact the T-Birds at 253-239-PUCK (7825) or go online to purchase a voucher package.

SCORING SUMMARY

First period – 1, Seattle, Rybinski 4 (Williams, Kubicek), :20. 2, Victoria, Fahey 5 (Derungs), 3:21. Penalties – Jeri-Leon, Sea (hooking), :20. Bateman, Sea (major-fighting), 5:40. Miller, Vic (major-fighting), 5:40. Kubicek, Sea (high sticking), 7:08. Herauf, Vic (slashing, unsportsmanlike conduct), 14:07. Williamson, Sea (roughing), 19:48.

Second period – 3, Victoria, Cutler 2 (Miller, Fizer), 4:28. 4, Victoria, Cutler 3 (Warm, Herauf), 9:43 (pp). Penalties – Derungs, Vic (cross checking), 5:08. Ciona, Sea (double minor-tripping), 8:57. Rybinski, Sea (boarding), 11:58. Fahey, Vic (tripping), 14:47. Roulette, Sea (slashing), 16:33.

Third period – No scoring. Penalties – Doust, Vic (double minor-tripping), :44. Bruggen-Cate, Sea (roughing), 2:15. Rempe, Sea (slashing), 2:15. Bench, Sea (too many men-served by Jeri-Leon), 4:37. Williamson, Sea (slashing), 6:07. Smith, Vic (cross checking), 13:55. Bryks, Vic (cross checking), 19:14.

Shots on goal – Seattle 11-9-12 32, Victoria 12-15-5 32. Goalies – Seattle, Ross 21 shots-18 saves (7-11-2-1), Lyda 11-11; Victoria, Farkas 32-31 (11-4-1-0). Power plays – Seattle 0-8; Victoria 1-10. Referees – Matt Hicketts, Sean Raphael. Linesmen – Duncan Browne, Brent Vandeventer.