Photo Credit: Joe Borek
Well, that did not take long for the Royals to have to get the comeback train on as Marcus Power scored just 21 seconds in on a nice assist by Zach O’Brien. Power buried a wide-open chance in front of Ustimenko as the Royals again did not have good positioning in front of their goalie just like at least 2 of the goals allowed last evening against the Growlers. The Royals did respond though after the Growlers goal by flipping the ice and playing almost seemingly angry aggressive after giving up such an early out of position goal. The Royals pushed the anty after giving up the goal so much so, that the shots were 8-2 Royals with 12:37 to go in the first. Then when the Growlers did show push back they got a high stick in front of Ustimenko to put the Royals on the Power Play. That Power Play did not pan out goal wise but did generate some good chances. One being on a Cormier shot from the point almost deflected in down low.
After the Power Play, the Growlers had a nice few shift push where Ustimenko had to come up big and did on a few stops. Then it was back to good back and forth play to round out the final about three minutes of the first. In the first both goalies Cormier for the Growlers, and our Royals Ustimenko came up large on a few key saves to keep the score where it was 1-0 Growlers at the end of the first. The Goaltending theme sticks around in this one. All in all, it was a good played first by the Royals after the first 21 seconds. It is good to see the team and Ustimenko respond well after allowing an early goal. For the Royals, it was now about carrying that response into the next 40 minutes of play.
The Royals did just that and then some in the second. The Royals had a very lively start to the second as they got their second Power Play early, This time getting a goal on the PP, cause Jacob Pritchard took it upon himself to tie up the game on a goal that probably should not have counted since the net was knocked off due to the force of Pritchard crashing on the play. But hey, every team needs a call like that to go their way sometimes. However, that does not take away just how nice the play was from Pritchard as he used his speed and skating ability to get through a tough Growlers defense and put the puck in the net. A nice showing from Pritchard; looking good having big moments in each game this weekend against the Growlers. He is a very fun player to watch and really has stepped up in Winquist’s absence.
Then there is Evan Cormier. Saying he was on point in the second would be an understatement. He was the difference-maker to the Royals not being ahead. Our netminder Ustimenko also stayed sharp in the second. Though overall Usti didn’t need to do as much since the Royals played a better period in front of him. The second did include however, the Royals save of the night though as Ustimenko robbed Power (it looked from the press box) on a nice breakaway move. Shots were 11-9 Royals in the period. Overall the Royals looked very sharp in front of Ustimenko in the second tonight and used some good defense and pass-cutting plays to lead to their offense. A strategy they used well the entire evening. So far the Royals had after the first 21 seconds of the game, played a very good 40 minutes. Frankly, 40 minutes they outplayed the Growlers in but just did not have a lead to show for it. Now it was just about keeping the intensity and well-rounded play up into the pivotal 3rd period
That intensity did stay up as the third period started with some good back and forth play resulting in a few nice saves by Ustimenko on our end and defensive plays by the Growlers on their end, as well as, Cormier continuing his success. Our Royals too continued to look sharper in front of Ustimenko cutting down cut moves by Growlers players and at other times stopping them at the blue line. Then when they did get through it was Ustimenko coming up again with a save. This was a great goalie battle between Ustimenko and Cormier. With 13:51 to go in the 3rd, it was a fun back and forth pace that now all the Royals had to do was have a good final 13 to get the win in a fun exciting tilt.
That lively back and forth pace did not stop as with 4:42 left in the 3rd the shots were even at 32 just proving how tight this game was. This game definitely throughout had the feel of the next goal wins. Which of course ended up being the case. Our Royals took that next goal mentality to heart as their push this entire game was much better than Friday that if not for Cormier the Royals could have won in Regulation. This game was definitely set up to be one hell of an overtime after a very enticing 60 minutes resulting in a 1-1 regulation tie.
Well, it was sure as heck a very exciting back and forth OT unfortunately just not getting the result we want. However, this is one of those losses especially against a top Growlers team you can take a lot of good from to be able to carry into tomorrow’s tilt against the Admirals at 3 pm. Like coach Kirk MacDonald said the Royals out chanced and outplayed the Growlers, but that’s sports sometimes you still come out on the losing end. Jeremy McKenna had the winner for the Growlers Ustimenko had no chance on. The Royals in my opinion and coach Kirk Macdonald’s opinion post game outplayed the Growlers and just happened to have one of those days where you can do it all right but still come out with a loss.
If the Royals keep this style and intensity of play up in a full 60 tomorrow, just like tonight lookout Norfolk Admirals. The Stars of tonight’s game are Evan Cormier who was lights out in the net for the Growlers. Kirill Ustimenko was the same for us earning him a star of the game. Then the young gunner forward Jacob Pritchard was a stud yet again on the ice. Now onto tomorrow where in my opinion if the Royals keep up this style from tonight, will get a key win tomorrow against the Admirals. They of course did pick up a key point tonight in the loss to the Growlers. See you all at 3 pm tomorrow as the Royals take on the very familiar Norfolk Admirals.
