The Victoria Royals ruled the rink in the second period and seized a huge two points away from the Prince George Cougars.
The Royals, on home ice Friday night, scored four unanswered goals in the middle frame and went on to beat the Cougars 4-2 in Western Hockey League action.
The Royals went into the second period trailing 1-0 but quickly erased the deficit. At the five-minute mark, Brandon Magee struck on a power play. Then, just over four minutes later, Steven Hodges found a loose puck in front of the Prince George net and coaxed it past goaltender Drew Owsley. The Royals went up 3-1 on a goal by Jamie Crooks, who converted a slick pass from behind the net by Logan Nelson. The marker was Crooks's team-leading 31st of the season. Before the period ended, Dakota Conroy -- on a power play -- added to Victoria's lead.
In the third, Jake Mykitiuk pulled the Cougars into a 4-2 deficit. Despite being awarded a late power play, and Jordan Tkatch getting a glorious scoring chance with Owsley pulled for the extra skater, they couldn't get any more pucks behind goaltender Keith Hamilton.
Caleb Belter scored the Prince George goal in the first period. The opening 20 minutes were filled with fights -- five of them in total. As a result of all the fisticuffs, the Cougars lost 20-year-old blueliner Cody Carlson -- who was involved in two bouts -- to a game misconduct.
The Royals outshot the Cougars 26-20. Victoria went 2-for-5 on the power play, while Prince George was 0-for-7.
With the result, the Cats (18-36-0-2) fell four points behind the Royals (18-34-2-4), a team they are trying to catch for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
The Cougars and Royals will do it all over again tonight in Victoria. Game time is 7:05.
Next weekend, the teams will wrap up their season series with an all-important doubleheader at CN Centre.
