After a heartbreaking double-overtime loss in Game 1, the Victoria Royals bounced back in a big way on Monday night, cruising to a dominant 5-1 win over the Spokane Chiefs in Game 2 of their second-round WHL playoff series.
Twenty-year-old forward Kenta Isogai set the tone midway through the first period, scoring his fourth goal of the postseason. After taking a pass from Cole Reschny, Isogai used a smooth forehand fake to freeze Chiefs goaltender Carter Esler before sliding the puck through the five-hole to give Victoria a 1-0 lead after 20 minutes. The Royals carried that momentum into the second period.
🎥HIGHLIGHT OF THE NIGHT🎥
— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) April 15, 2025
Can't stop, won't stop Kenta Isogai!@victoriaroyals | #WHLHoN | #WHLPlayoffs | #FeedingtheFuture pic.twitter.com/CzAJ0EaEAn
Utah Hockey Club prospect Justin Kipkie doubled the lead with a power-play goal just over six minutes in, assisted by Isogai and Reschny.
Victoria struck again on the man advantage midway through the frame, as Winnipeg Jets draft pick Markus Loponen fired a wrist shot from the top of the faceoff circle with help from Nate Misskey and Keaton Verhoeff to make it 3-0.
Spokane finally answered with 33 seconds left in the period, as Berkly Catton beat Johnny Hicks to get the Chiefs on the board. But the Royals entered the third with a 3-1 lead and full control of the game.
They put it away in the final frame. Brayden Boehm made it 4-1 with a power-play goal just past the six-minute mark, with Reggie Newman and Verhoeff drawing helpers. Boehm found the same five-hole on Esler that Isogai had earlier, unleashing a quick snapshot.
Then it was Newman’s turn to score, adding Victoria’s fifth goal with under nine minutes to play as he parked himself in front of the Chiefs' net and deflected a Misskey shot from the blue-line past Esler.
Hicks turned in another stellar performance in net, stopping 40 of 41 shots to secure the win. The Royals’ penalty kill remained sharp, going 4-for-4 on the night, while their power play went 3-for-3.
Offensively, Reschny recorded four points in the first two games of the second round, bringing his postseason total to 16, tied for the fifth-most in the WHL.
The 18-year-old's performance has caught the attention of the hockey world, earning him a spot at 25th among North American skaters in the final 2025 draft rankings, which were released on Tuesday.
Through two games, Victoria has successfully contained Spokane’s dangerous top line of Andrew Cristall, Shea Van Olm, and Catton. The trio, which combined for 37 points in the Chiefs’ first-round win, has been held to just six points so far in the series.
With the series now tied 1-1, the Royals return home for Game 3 on Wednesday night. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre.
