Recap: KAM 7 - VIC 5 (Series 3-0 Kam) (Game 3)

The Kamloops Blazers scored six second period goals to earn a 7-5 victory over the Royals in Victoria Tuesday night, and take a 3-0 strangle hold series lead.

Colin Smith scored a goal and 3 assists in a 7-5 Blazer win.

Game 4 goes Wednesday night with a 6:45 pregame show on The Zone @ 91.3 FM.

“I thought four things basically it came down to, power play, penalty killl, goaltending and composure.” Ben Cooper, Assistant Coach of the Royals.

It was a see-saw affair, as the Royals took a 2-0 lead to the first intermission.

The Blazers scored the next three to go ahead for the first time, followed by a pair by Victoria to regain the lead 4-3.  Kamloops scored the next 3 to take a 6-4 lead to the third.

The Royals cut the lead to one in the final frame as the team exchanged goals for a 7-5 Blazer final.

Jared Rathjen who got the start for Victoria stopped 16 of 21 before being replaced in the second by Keith Hamilton who made 10 saves on 12 shots.  Cole Cheveldave blocked 18 for his 3rd consecutive win.  Kamloops out shot Victoria 33-22.

Captain Hayden Rintoul blocks an attempt at the empty net.

The Blazers power play scored 3 times in the second going 3 for 6 on the night, while adding 2 short handed markers – all special teams goals coming in the second period.   The Royals went 0 for 4.

Jamie Crooks score the franchise’s first playoff hat trick and was named 2nd star.  Logan Nelson and Steven Hodges chipped in with a pair of assists each. 

Colin Smith was named the number 1 star with his goal and three assists.  JC Lipon had a goal and two assists for 3rd star honours.

Ben Cooper, assistant coach of the Royals, breaks down the game:


Royals F Tim Traber talks about the fans and the next game:
 

Ben Cooper talks about the Blazers second period:
 

Ben Cooper on the teams mindset heading into Game 4:


Kamloops Blazers 7 at Victoria Royals 5 - Status: Final
Tuesday, March 27, 2012 - Save-On-Foods Memorial Arena - Victoria, BC

Kamloops 0 6 1 - 7
Victoria 2 2 1 - 5

1st Period-
1, Victoria, Jones 1 (Walker, Nelson), 8:02.
2, Victoria, Crooks 2 (Nelson, Hodges), 15:16.

Penalties-Hanes Kam (tripping), 9:58; Conroy Vic (tripping), 12:46; Nelson Vic (high sticking), 15:55; Herrod Kam (inter. on goaltender), 19:07.

2nd Period-
3, Kamloops, Willick 3 (Bell), 0:54 (SH).
4, Kamloops, Bozon 4 (Smith), 2:55.
5, Kamloops, Cross 1 (Lipon, Smith), 4:36 (PP).
6, Victoria, Crooks 3 (Fransoo, Hodges), 5:51.
7, Victoria, Crooks 4 (Zgraggen), 8:26.
8, Kamloops, DePape 3 (Ranford, Herrod), 14:55 (PP).
9, Kamloops, Needham 1   17:26 (SH).
10, Kamloops, Lipon 1 (Smith, Hrbas), 18:48 (PP).

Penalties-Hodges Vic (hooking), 4:29; Lipon Kam (roughing), 9:14; Forsyth Vic (roughing), 9:14; Bozon Kam (major-fighting), 10:26; Stahl Vic (major-fighting), 10:26; Walker Vic (holding), 13:25; Hrbas Kam (cross checking), 16:30; Stahl Vic (elbowing), 18:01.

3rd Period-
11, Victoria, Carroll 2 (Conroy, Stahl), 1:20.
12, Kamloops, Smith 1 (Lipon, Sterzer), 6:38.

Penalties-Sterzer Kam (hooking), 4:12; Kanzig Vic (interference), 9:54.

Shots on Goal-
Kamloops 7-15-11-33.
Victoria 9-7-7-23.

Power Play Opportunities-
Kamloops 3 / 6;
Victoria 0 / 4.

Goalies-
Kamloops, Cheveldave 3-0-0-0 (23 shots-18 saves).
Victoria, Rathjen 0-1-0-0 (21 shots-16 saves);
Hamilton 0-2-0-0 (12 shots-10 saves).

A-5,255
Referees-Ryan Benbow (62), Pat Smith (12).
Linesmen-Chris Sweeting (137), Kirk Van Helvoirt (107).