Loading ...COLWOOD, BC – The Victoria Cougars scored six unanswered goals en route to a 6-1 win over the Westshore Wolves on Wednesday.
Scoring for Victoria (30-1-0-1), who won its eighth straight game, were Brody Coulter, Sam Rice, Jordan Law, Jake Daughtry, Dane Feeney, and David Marshall.
Evan Roch, making his 20th start of the season, made 13 saves.
Replying for the hometown Wolves (18-16-0-0), who dropped their third game in a row, was Spencer Preece.
Westshore managed to get on the board first when Preece beat Roch from in close at 5:27 of the opening period.
It was the third straight game in which the Cougars have allowed their opponent to strike first.
But the jubilation lasted for only 79 seconds. Coulter extended is point streak to 29 games after he picked the top right hand corner of the net for his 25th goal of the season.
Rice, who was named the game’s first star, scored the game winner at 9:22 after he blew by Dylan Grant and then banking the puck off the crossbar and in.
The Cougars continued to apply the pressure.
Law, who had some pretty big shoes to fill with the likes of Garrett Brandsma, Mark Walton, Nathan Chen-Mack, and Jamie Severs not in the lineup, gave Victoria a 3-1 lead at 12:29 in his first game as a call up.
Then at 16:04, Daughtry banged home a rebound from the edge of the crease.
During the first intermission, backup goalie Matt Chester was seen stretching in the player’s tunnel.
And in fact, Alec Dillon, who allowed four goals on 14 shots, was yanked in favour of the ex-Saanich Braves and Kerry Park Islanders goalie.
Feeney gave the Cougars a four goal advantage with a power play goal at 10:13. Watching the proceedings from the sin bin was Tyler Smith.
Although not tested a whole lot, Roch came up with a huge save after he robbed Kayle Ramsey of a sure goal midway through the period.
Eight minutes after Feeney had given Victoria a 5-1 lead, Marshall made it 6-1 with a power play goal of his own. The goal, which was scored at 18:10, came with Eric MacLennan serving a penalty for goaltender interference.
There was no scoring in the third period.
Chester, who stopped 25 shots through 40 minutes, was named the game’s third star.
The Cougars were 2-for-9 on the power play and a perfect 3-for-3 on the penalty kill.
After the buzzer sounded to end the game, Travis Oickle slammed his stick against the inside wall of the player’s tunnel while making his way to the Wolves dressing room.
Next game for Victoria is Thursday, December 20 against the Saanich Braves. Game time at the Archie Browning Sports Centre, located at 1151 Esquimalt Road, is 7:00 p.m.
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THREE STARS:
1st star, Sam Rice (Goals: 1, Assists: 1)
2nd star, David Marshall (Goals: 1, Assists: 1)
3rd star, Matt Chester (Saves: 25, Save Percentage: .926)
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