SHOOTOUT BEATS BLAZERS
The Kamloops Blazers gave up a five-on-three goal in the third period to tie the game an eventually fell in a 16-player shootout 3-2. The Royals scored the game’s first goal as Steven Hodges found a rebound and put it into an open net for a 1-0 Royals lead. The first period was a lot quieter than the night before as the Blazers held a 13-11 advantage on the shot clock.
The Blazers tied the score up early in the second period as Tim Bozon and Brendan Ranford combined to set up Dylan Willick in the high shot. His shot found its way past goaltender Patrik Polivka to make it 1-1. The Blazers got stronger as the period went on and took the lead with 5:48 to play. Matt Needham gave a pass to Cole Ully and he scored his 14th goal of the season to make it 2-1. The Blazers had pressure as the period was ending but the score remained 2-1 heading into the third period.
The Royals got a gift to start the third period. The Blazers took two penalties within nine seconds of each other to go down five-on-three for a 1:51. Steven Hodges found a rebound and put it home for an easy tieing goal to make it 2-2. As the period continued, the Blazers had pressure on the Royals but Patrik Polivka was solid in goal as the game went to overtime.
Overtime solved nothing and to a shootout we went. Steven Hodges scored on the first attempt of the shootout. The Blazers two shooters both missed, while Taran Kozun stopped the Royals other two shooters which left Colin Smith needing to score to extend it. Smith did just that as the shootout continued. Jack Walker scored for the Royals as the next shooter, and Tim Bozon responded for the Blazers to continue the shootout. After three consecutive shooters aside were denied, Tyler Stahl fired a shot past Kozun. Sam Grist was left to tie it up, but his attempt slid off the outside of the post and wide as the Royals took it 3-2.
The Blazers finished the night 0-for-3 on the power play while the Royals were 1-for-5. The Royals enjoyed two five-on-three power plays, while the Blazers weren’t awarded one.
The Blazers will now head south for a game in Tri-City on Friday night before returning home to face the Royals on Saturday night.
