Special teams helped the Victoria Royals start the post-Christmas portion of their Western Hockey League schedule with a victory.
The Royals started their game against the Vancouver Giants with a pair of power-play goals, and then got some key penalty kills in the second and third periods to come away with a 4-2 victory at the Langley Events Centre.
Rookie Cole Reschny opened the scoring on a Royals man-advantage just 2:29 into the first period, and then Escalus Burlock struck on a power play just 32 seconds into the middle period to put the Royals in control, or so they thought. The Giants got Ty Halaburda and Tyler Thorpe goals 1:35 apart early in the second to draw Vancouver even. But with seven minutes left in the second period, Nate Misskey’s point shot found its way past Giants netminder Brett Mirwald to put the Royals back on top.
The Royals (21-12-0-2) got another power-play goal in the third period from Tanner Scott to put the game away. Victoria finished 3-for-4 on the power play, while Vancouver (13-19-2-0) was 0-for-6.
Veteran goaltender Brayden Holt made 30 saves to pick up the win in net for Victoria.
The Royals are right back at it tonight when they head south to Wenatchee to take on the Wild.
