The Victoria Royals ran into a hot backup goaltender Friday who got some help from the iron, and the visiting Vancouver Giants stole a 2-1 victory to open the teamsB次元官网网址� Western Hockey League playoff series.
Sixteen-year-old rookie Trent Miner, playing in place of the GiantsB次元官网网址� injured No. 1 starter David Tendeck, made 40 saves and gave the Royals few rebounds to pounce on.
B次元官网网址淚t was pretty awesome to come in here, especially into Victoria where thereB次元官网网址檚 that big B.C. rivalry,B次元官网网址� Miner said.
After a shaky start with a couple of big hits and a couple of killed-off penalties, he said, the GiantsB次元官网网址� confidence began to build. Where the shots were once 14-3 Royals, they ended up 14-13 by the intermission and the Giants showed good composure under pressure. Miner expected more of the same for game 2 Saturday night back at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檒l be a hard fought battle, gritty, two teams that hate each other, but another great game.
All the goals came in the second period, with the winning marker coming off the stick of defenceman Matt Barberis and snapping a 1-1 tie at the 18:25 mark. The shot, coming with plenty of bodies in front of Royals goalie Griffen Outhouse, seem to float through a gap and beat the netminder high to his right.
Giants head coach Jason McKee noted his team will have to continue that strategy to have success against the veteran.
B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 a great goalie and heB次元官网网址檚 very athletic, so weB次元官网网址檙e going to have to get some second-chance opportunities and the only way thatB次元官网网址檚 going to happen is if we get to the net,B次元官网网址� he said.
Of his own young goaltender, McKee was thrilled to get such a performance from Miner, but noted that TendeckB次元官网网址檚 condition B次元官网网址� he was listed as having an upper body injury B次元官网网址� will be evaluated after the Saturday morning skate.
B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 been our go-to guy all year, heB次元官网网址檚 earned that, so when that time comes that heB次元官网网址檚 ready, heB次元官网网址檚 going to get his opportunity in there,B次元官网网址� McKee said.
The Giants drew first blood in the game on a breakout from their own end. James Malm took a pass over the Royals blueline, sent a nifty backhand pass to Ty Ronning, who shot on net, then Milos Roman scored off the rebound 5:48 into the period.
About six minutes later the RoyalsB次元官网网址� Tanner Kaspick tied it up. He finished off a slick three-way passing play in front of Miner begun by Matthew Phillips, who found Dante Hannoun, who dropped it for Kaspick.
Royals head coach Dan Price sounded calm after the game, noting there are bound to be ups and downs for his team in the series and that no one expected it to be over in four games.
B次元官网网址淚 thought it was a really strong effort on both teams, kind of like we expected,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚t was very physical, it was fast, a lot of tenacity on both sides with scrums around the net. I thought both teams competed very hard.B次元官网网址�
The Royals had plenty of good chances, he added, not to mention hitting the post or crossbar four times on the night. He echoed McKeeB次元官网网址檚 comment on the importance of getting traffic in front of the net, and said they may need to be more selective with their shots.
The Royals finished the night outshooting the Giants 41-33. Both teams went 0-for-4 on the power play.
Game time Saturday is 7:05 p.m.
