VICTORIA - Jamie Crooks scored two goals and Patrik Polivka made 20 saves as the Victoria Royals blanked the visiting Everett Silvertips 5-0 in Western Hockey League action on Friday night.
Alex Gogolev, Ben Walker and Brandon Fushimi also scored for the Royals (11-10-0) and Brandon Magee chipped in with two assists.
Ty Mappin was a team-worst minus-3 for the Silvertips (7-14-2), who have lost eight of their last 10 games.
Victoria opened the scoring early in the first on an offensive face off when Gogolev batted a rebound out of the air and in behind Silvertips' goaltender Austin Lotz.
Everett had chances to score in the opening period, but missed two clear-cut breakaways against Polivka, including one that beat him but hit the post.
The Royals went ahead 2-0 in the second period when Crooks scored from the slot, taking a perfect pass from Magee from behind the net.
Walker made it 3-0 on a two-man advantage with a long, low wrist shot that eluded Lotz.
The Royals increased their lead to 4-0 in the third on a cycle play from behind the net that was finished off by Fushimi.
Crooks got his second of the night, and sixth in seven games, pulling a slick back-hand deke on a breakaway against goalie Daniel Cotton, who replaced Lotz after the fourth goal.
Lotz allowed four goals on 27 shots before getting pulled in the third period. Cotton played the final 14 minutes and stopped 8-of-9 shots in relief.
Victoria went 1-for-5 on the power play while Everett failed to score on three chances with the man advantage.
Silvertips' defenceman and 2012 second-overall NHL draft pick Ryan Murray left the game in the second period favouring his shoulder.
NHL.com is the official web site of the National Hockey League. NHL, the NHL Shield, the word mark and image of the Stanley Cup, the Stanley Cup Playoffs logo, the Stanley Cup Final logo, Center Ice name and logo, NHL Conference logos, NHL Winter Classic name, and The Biggest Assist Happens Off The Ice are registered trademarks and Vintage Hockey word mark and logo, The Game Lives Where You Do, NHL Winter Classic logo, NHL Heritage Classic name and logo, NHL Stadium Series name and logo, NHL All-Star logo, NHL Face-Off name and logo, NHL. TV, NHL Premium, NHL After Dark, NHL GameCenter, NHL GameCenter LIVE, NHL Network name and logo, NHL Tonight name and logo, On The Fly, NHL Awards name and logo, NHL Draft name and logo, Hockey Fights Cancer, Because It's The Cup, NHL Green name and logo, NHL Vault, Hockey Is For Everyone, NHL Thanksgiving Showdown name and logo, NHL Centennial Classic name and logo, NHL Centennial Season logo, NHL100 Classic name and logo, NHL Global Series name and logo, NHL China Games name and logo, and Don't Miss A Moment are trademarks of the National Hockey League. All NHL logos and marks and NHL team logos and marks depicted herein are the property of the NHL and the respective teams and may not be reproduced without the prior written consent of NHL Enterprises, L.P. © NHL 2018. All Rights Reserved. All NHL team jerseys customized with NHL players' names and numbers are officially licensed by the NHL and the NHLPA. The Zamboni word mark and configuration of the Zamboni ice resurfacing machine are registered trademarks of Frank J. Zamboni & Co., Inc. © Frank J. Zamboni & Co., Inc. 2018. All Rights Reserved. Any other third party trademarks or copyrights are property of their respective owners. All rights reserved.