Forwards Tarun Fizer and Tanner Scott both recorded a goal and an assist, while goaltender Tyler Palmer stopped all but two of 21 shots in the 5-2 victory.
The Royals earn two points for the first time in 2022, improving their record to 13-29-4-1 on the season.
Forwards Zach Ostapchuk and Ty Halaburda recorded the only two goals for Vancouver, who had won back-to-back games heading into Friday night. Giants goalie Jesper Vikman made 24 of 28 saves for his team.
Victoria opened the scoring at 5:11 of the first with defenceman Kalem Parker’s second goal of the year. It wouldn’t take long for Vancouver to respond, tying the game at 1-1 on a goal by Ty Halaburda (5) at 9:22.
It appeared we would head to the second with a tie game, however, Royals forward Reggie Newman (3) would take a cross-crease pass from forward Tarun Fizer with only 33 seconds remaining in the frame to give his team a 2-1 lead heading into period two.
The Royals would add on in the middle stanza, making it 3-1 on goal by Tanner Scott at 2:09 of the period. The Giants would up the pressure following the goal, but Victoria goaltender Tyler Palmer would make a number of key saves throughout the frame to keep his team up by two heading into the third.
A powerplay gave Victoria an opportunity to add on to start the third, and they would make it 4-1 on a goal by team captain Tarun Fizer at 2:24. The Chestermere, AB native’s eighth of the season would ultimately be the game-winner.
Giants forward Zach Ostapchuk would capitalize on his team’s own man advantage opportunity by scoring his 11th of the season at 12:40, but that would be as close as Vancouver would get as Victoria’s Riley Gannon (13) added an empty netter at 19:07 to secure the 5-2 victory.
Victoria records their seventh win over Vancouver this season, while the loss brings the Giants’ record to 18-24-2-0. The two teams will meet three more times in the next month, with the next tilt set for Monday, Feb. 21.
Tomorrow will see the Giants travel to Kamloops for a game against the division-leading Blazers, while the Royals will head south for a game against the Everett Silvertips, with puck drop set for 6:05pm at Angels of the Wind Arena.
