What began as a chance for the Victoria Royals to seize control of their second-round playoff series quickly spiralled into their toughest night of the postseason.
In front of 6,024 fans at the Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre for Game 4 on Friday, the Royals were overwhelmed early and often by the Spokane Chiefs, falling 9–6 in a lopsided, high-scoring affair that evened the series at two games apiece.
Spokane’s high-octane offence wasted no time getting to work, storming out to a five-goal lead within the first 16 minutes of play.
The normally dependable Johnny Hicks had a rare off night, allowing three goals on 10 shots and getting pulled just 13 minutes into the game. Jayden Kraus came in for relief, but the Chiefs didn’t ease up, scoring two more in quick succession.
Two of those early goals came from players who had yet to score in the postseason, with Nathan Mayes and Owen Martin both finding the back of the net.
Andrew Cristall continued his torrid pace with his 11th goal of the playoffs, while Mathis Preston tallied his fifth and Rasmus Ekstrom added his fourth.
Spokane carried a dominant 5-0 lead into the middle frame after outshooting Victoria 20-4 in the first period.
The Royals finally got on the board in the second after trading penalties early in the frame.
Their top-ranked power play went to work, and it was a familiar face doing the damage -- Teydon Trembecky buried his seventh goal of the playoffs, capitalizing on the man advantage.
Victoria entered the game with a league-leading 36.7 per cent power play.
Just as it looked like the Royals might claw their way back into the game, Nolan Stewart took a double minor for high-sticking, sending Spokane to the power play.
The Chiefs took full advantage, scoring twice in just 18 seconds. Ekstrom did the damage, recording his second and third goals of the night to complete the hat trick. The Stockholm, Sweden product was a major factor all evening.
Victoria added one late in the second when Caleb Matthews beat Dawson Cowan five-hole on a partial breakaway. The play began 200 feet away in the Royals’ end, with Matthews finishing off the rush to cut the deficit to 7-2 after 40 minutes.
That set the stage for a wild third period.
Victoria's Hayden Moore got it started with a highlight-reel shorthanded goal just two minutes in, driving wide and sliding the puck into an open cage after outwaiting Cowan to pull Victoria within four.
Spokane answered less than a minute later, with Preston scoring his second of the game on the power play.
The Royals continued to push, getting goals from Trembecky — his second of the game — along with Cole Reschny and Brandon Lisowsky. But it wasn’t enough. Berkly Catton added an insurance marker for Spokane, sealing the 9-6 victory.
The win capped off a chaotic 15-goal contest, with Spokane’s big three of Cristall, Catton, and Shea Van Olm combining for nine points. But, first-star honours went to Ekstrom, who finished with a hat trick and an assist.
Both teams went three-for-six on the power play, while Spokane outshot Victoria 46-18.
The series now shifts to a pivotal Game 5 on Saturday night, once again at the Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre. Puck drop is set for 6:05 p.m., with the winner moving one step away from advancing — and the loser facing elimination in Game 6 on Tuesday night in Spokane.
