WHL Roundup: Royals hold on to beat Cougars, first team to hit 100-point mark

VICTORIA – Vladimir Bobylev scored once and set up two more as the red-hot Victoria Royals became the first Western Hockey League team this season to reach the 100-point mark with a 4-3 victory over the Prince George Cougars on Sunday.

Alex Forsberg and Bobylev scored 1:14 apart early in the first period and Jack Walker added another to make it 3-0 before the first intermission for the Royals (47-16-6), who have won 10 in a row and are 21-1-1 since Jan 6.

Scott Walford scored the eventual winner 8:18 into the second, putting Victoria ahead 4-0 before Prince George found its offence.

Brad Morrison put the Cougars (36-29-5) on the board with his first of two goals just 16 seconds after Walford’s. Luke Harrison scored at 10:06 and Morrison made it a one-goal game late in the period, but that was as close as Prince George would make it en route to its third loss in a row.

Royals netminder Coleman Vollrath made 15 saves for the win. Nick McBride started for the Cougars but gave up three goals on nine shots in just 7:49 of work. Ty Edmonds took over and stopped 21-of-22 shots in relief, but took the loss.

Victoria went 1 for 3 with the man advantage while also not giving up a power-play opportunity.

—

TIGERS 4 HITMEN 3

CALGARY — Matt Bradley scored the third of three unanswered goals in the third period as Medicine Hat came from behind to beat the Hitmen.

David Quenneville and Mason Shaw also scored in the third for the Tigers (29-36-5), while Zach Fisher opened the scoring in the first. Nick Schneider stopped 22-of-24 shots for the win after taking over for Mack Shields, who left after a period of work.

Travis Sanheim, Bryce Platt and Radel Fazleez built up a 3-1 lead for Calgary (39-26-4), which had its three-game win streak snapped. Nik Amundrund made 29 saves in defeat.

—

OIL KINGS 4 HURRICANES 3

LETHBRIDGE, Alta. — Lane Bauer and Brett Pollock both had a goal and two helpers as Edmonton toppled the Hurricanes.

Aaron Irving and Brandon Baddock also scored for the Oil Kings (29-33-7), who got a 32-save outing from Payton Lee.

Giorgio Estephan scored once and set up two more for Lethbridge (45-23-2), while Andrew Nielsen and Brayden Burke added a goal and an assist apiece. Stuart Skinner made 40 saves in defeat.

—

SILVERTIPS 3 WINTERHAWKS 2 (OT)

PORTLAND, Ore. — Noah Juulsen scored 1:12 into overtime as Everett held on to beat the Winterhawks.

Brian King and Yan Khomenko gave the Silvertips (38-24-7) a two-goal lead before needing extra time to pick up the win. Mario Petit made 24 saves for the win.

Rihards Bukarts and Rodrigo Abos found the back of the net in the third period to earn Portland (34-30-5) a single point. Adin Hill kicked out 25-of-28 shots in a losing cause.

—

AMERICANS 6 ROCKETS 4

KENNEWICK, Wash. — Parker AuCoin had a goal and two assists and Evan Sarthough made 32 saves as Tri-City downed Kelowna.

Mackenze Stewart, Jusso Valimaki, Dylan Coghlan, Jordan Topping and Michael Rasmussen also scored for the Americans (33-34-3).

Tanner Wishnowksi, Rourke Chartier, Tyson Baillie and Calvin Thurkauf supplied the scoring for the Rockets (46-18-4). Brodan Salmond gave up five goals on 26 shots for the loss.

—