Royals drop Thunderbirds, 6-2

The Victoria Royals defeated Seattle 6-2 Saturday night at the ShoWare Center, extending the Thunderbirds’ losing streak to 13 games.

The T-Birds travel to Kennewick to face the Tri-City Americans at 5:50 p.m. today at the Toyota Center.

Victoria (21-17-1-2) took a 1-0 lead at 8:01 of the first period when Austin Carroll scored off a scramble in front of Seattle goalie Brandon Glover. The referee initially waved no goal, then after consulting with the second referee and the linesmen, indicated Carroll had scored. The referees then went to video review, and after about a three-minute delay, indicated the goal would stand. Alex Gogolev and Jordan Fransoo were credited with the assists.

The Royals took a 2-0 lead at 10:31 of the first when Steven Hodges scored a power-play goal. Trent Lofthouse had the only assist on the goal.

Victoria took a 3-0 lead on a power-play goal from Brandon Magee at 19:29 of the first. Gogolev and Brett Cote were credited with the assists.

Both teams had nine shots on goal in the first period.

Danny Mumaugh started the second period in net for Seattle replacing Glover. Glover made six saves on nine shots and recorded the loss dropping his record to 15-18-2-1.

Jamie Crooks extended the Royals lead to 4-0 at 6:27 of the second period with an unassisted power-play goal.

Seattle (16-24-2-1) got on the board at 10:17 of the second when Shea Theodore scored a power-play goal. Luke Lockhart moved the puck up the right boards to Theodore at the right point. Theodore skated the puck to center ice and put a wrist shot on goal with traffic in front of Victoria goalie Patrik Polivka. Theodore’s shot beat Polivka low for his ninth goal of the year.

The T-Birds cut the Royals lead to two goals at 15:24 of the second. Luke Lockhart took a shot from the high slot that Polivka stopped. Seth Swenson was on top of the crease and backhanded the rebound past the goalie and into the net. Theodore had the second assist on the goal.

Seattle outshot Victoria 17-16 in the second period and led 26-25 in total shots after two periods.

Victoria got the three-goal lead back at 4:37 of the third when Crooks scored his second goal of the night. Hodges had the only assist on the goal.

Crooks scored an unassisted shorthanded empty-net goal at 18:58 of the third to seal the win for the Royals.

Both teams had 13 shots on goal in the third period and Seattle finished the game with a 39-38 advantage in shots.

Mumaugh made 26 saves on 28 shots in two periods of action.

Polivka stopped 37 of 39 shots and his record is now 17-10-1-2.

T-Birds tickets are available online at the T-Birds website, at the ShoWare Center box office or by calling 253-239-7825.

SCORING SUMMARY

First period – 1, Victoria, Carroll 9 (Gogolev, Fransoo), 8:01. 2, Victoria, Hodges 12 (Lofthouse), 10:31 (pp). 3, Victoria, Magee 17 (Gogolev, Cote) 19:29 (pp). Penalties – Hicketts, Vic (tripping), :22. Delnov, Sea (slashing), 3:15. Foulk, Sea (roughing), 8:58. Elliot, Sea (major-fighting), 10:42. Kanzig, Vic (major-fighting), 10:42. Theodore, Sea (tripping), 18:28.

Second period – 4, Victoria, Crooks 19, 6:27 (pp). 5, Seattle, Theodore 9 (Lockhart, Kambeitz), 10:17 (pp). 6, Seattle, Swenson 13 (Lockhart, Theodore), 15:24. Penalties – Kambeitz, Sea (slashing), 6:17. Crooks, Vic (slashing), 9:08.

Third period – 7, Victoria, Crooks 20 (Hodges), 4:37. 8, Victoria, Crooks 21 (Hodges), 18:58 (en/sh). Penalties – Kambeitz, Vic (roughing), 7:53. Carroll, Vic (instigator, major-fighting, 10-minute misconduct), 10:26. Hauf, Sea (major-fighting), 10:26. Hicketts, Vic (delay of game), 18:14.

Shots on goal – Seattle 9-17-13 39, Victoria 9-16-13 38. Goalies – Seattle, Glover 9 shots-6 saves (15-18-2-1), Mumaugh 28-26; Victoria, Polivka 39-37 (17-10-1-2). Power plays – Seattle 1-4; Victoria 3-5. A – 4,012. Referees – Tyler Adair, Curtis Marouelli. Linesmen – Zach Brooks, Ron Dietterle.