Recap: KAM 5 - VIC 1

The Kamloops Blazers scored five unanswered to defeat the Royals 5-1 infront of a sell-out crowd in Victoria Saturday night.

“In coaching we say, ‘Today’s highs are tomorrow’s lows’, if you’re not careful, and I think we got caught up with that a little bit…we had an outstanding performance last night and played very well and got the victory despite giving up those two early goals.  I think we were a little bit high on ourselves today, and I didn’t think we played very well tonight at all.”  Enio Sacilotto, Royals Assistant Coach.

The Royals earned a split on the weekend games with a 4-2 come from behind victory over the Blazers on Friday.

Tim Bozon was the games first star on Saturday with a goal and assist putting him atop of the rookie scoring race with 51 points, while Cam Lanigan made 26 saves for his 9th win of the season.  Keith Hamilton suffered his 24th loss stopping 31 pucks.

Tim Traber gave Victoria a 1-0 lead after 20 minutes and the Royals held the Blazers off the scoresheet for a stretch of 93 minutes and 31 seconds spanning to the opening period of the Friday night game.  That streak was ended by Bozon at the 13:46 mark of the second, the beginning of five unanswered.  Brendan Ranford added his 26th short handed, and Colin Smith his 25th before the period was out. 

Game action Saturday night

D Kade Pilton on Pink in the Rink night.

In the third, JC Lipon and Brock Balson added power play markers for the 5-1 win, to snap a 2 game slide.  Kamloops has not lost 3 in a row all season.  The win puts the Blazers back on top of the WHL standings, while the loss keeps the Royals in 8th spot, 1 back of Seattle and 4 up on Everett. 

Special teams was a factor as Kamloops went 2 for 5, and added a short handed marker, while Victoria went 0 for 5.  

The eight game season series will wrap up in Kamloops on February 22nd, Victoria with just one win so far (1-5-1-0).

Enio Sacilotto's post game thoughts (Assistant Coach of the Royals)
 
Up Next a pair of visits from the Prince George Cougars on Tuesday and Wednesday, the franchise’s first visit back to Victoria in 17 years.  The Royals won both previous meetings in Prince George by scores of 5-3 and 5-4 in a shoot out, Sept. 30th and Oct 1st respectively.

Kamloops Blazers 5 at Victoria Royals 1 - Status: Final
Saturday, January 28, 2012 - Save-On-Foods Memorial Arena - Victoria, BC

Kamloops 0 3 2 - 5
Victoria 1 0 0 - 1

1st Period-
1, Victoria, Traber 2 (Conroy, Forsyth), 11:01.

Penalties-Nelson Vic (hooking), 3:19; Ranford Kam (roughing), 4:23; Lipon Kam (major-fighting), 11:28; Fransoo Vic (major-fighting), 11:28; Souto Kam (high sticking), 11:40.

2nd Period-
2, Kamloops, Bozon 26   13:46.
3, Kamloops, Ranford 26   14:38 (SH).
4, Kamloops, Smith 25 (Hansen, Bozon), 19:25.

Penalties-Madaisky Kam (cross checking), 14:13; Soudek Vic (tripping), 17:15.

3rd Period-
5, Kamloops, Lipon 16 (Cross), 8:07 (PP).
6, Kamloops, Balson 2 (Cross, Sterzer), 19:15 (PP).

Penalties-Soudek Vic (charging), 6:45; Needham Kam (tripping), 9:08; Lipon Kam (interference), 12:07; Crunk Vic (high sticking), 15:24; Habscheid Vic (high sticking), 18:23.

Shots on Goal-
Kamloops 15-10-11-36.
Victoria 6-10-11-27.

Power Play Opportunities-
Kamloops 2 / 5; Victoria 0 / 5.

Goalies-
Kamloops, Lanigan 9-4-0-0 (27 shots-26 saves).
Victoria, Hamilton 15-24-1-3 (36 shots-31 saves).

A-7,006

Referees-Chris Crich (80), Adam Griffiths (36).
Linesmen-Kirk Van Helvoirt (107), Nathan Van Oosten (115).