Victoria Royals outduel Spokane Chiefs in overtime

The Spokane Chiefs fought to the end, but the Victoria Royals battled from behind Wednesday to win 3-2 in overtime and rake a commanding 3-1 lead in the best-of-7 series.

The Chiefs played effective defense most of the night and outshot Victoria 32-26, but it was the Royals raising their hands in victory.

A night after the Chiefs pounded Victoria in a 5-2 win, the Royals came out with better energy and seemed to skate faster than the home team.

Despite better skating and puck handling by the Royals, it was the Chiefs who scored first. A few seconds after Kailer Yamamoto fired a shot just wide of the net, Dominic Zwerger collected the puck and slammed it past Victoria goalie Griffen Outhouse with 15:51 remaining in the period.

But the Royals responded.

The Chiefs were called for having too many men on the ice and gave Victoria its first power play. Moments later, Victoria’s Matthew Phillips fired the puck past Spokane goalie Lasse Petersen to tie the game 1-1 with 10:09 remaining in the first period.

The teams battled to a draw for the rest of the period and the Chiefs held a 12-8 advantage on shots on goal.

Just like in the first period, the Chiefs again struck first. With 12:30 remaining in the second period, Kailer Yamamoto fired a shot that smacked the Victoria crossbar, but the puck somehow stayed out of the net.

Some 30 seconds later, captain Jason Fram fired a perfect pass to a waiting Presten Kopeck, who smashed the puck past Outhouse to give Spokane the 2-1 lead.

But that advantage only lasted 1:08. Victoria’s Alex Forsberg fired a long-distance laser that crossed in front of Petersen and over his left shoulder into the net.

Referees reviewed video of the goal for several minutes before allowing it. The goal tied the game with 10:52 remaining in the second period.

In the strangest call of the night, Victoria was on a power play when Spokane’s Zwerger broke toward the Royals’ net. He was taken down and the referees called Victoria’s Jack Walker for slashing, but they also called Zwerger for embellishment.

Despite the call, the period ended with a 2-2 tie. Spokane also led 23-13 in shots on goal.

The third period was marked by another questionable call and two teams that absolutely battled for every puck.

Early in the period, Kopeck flashed in front of the Royals’ net but Outhouse deflected his shot high.

The Chiefs then had to survive three power plays, including one delay of game called on Markson Bechtold after he implored the referee to drop the puck during a faceoff. That call earned a chorus of boos from the fans and questions from coach Don Nachbaur.

But Spokane rallied its defense and scored three penalty kills, including a one-man defensive show put on by Curtis Miske.

Despite that, the game looked to be over when Forsberg got free in front of the Spokane net with 1:12 to play. But Forsberg somehow missed the chip shot in a mostly empty net and the game ended up going to overtime.

Forsberg scored in OT to give the Royals the victory.