The Victoria Royals scored three times in the first, as the beat the visiting Kamloops Blazers 3-2 Saturday night, sweeping the two game set after a 5-1 victory the night before.
 |
| Polivka made 18 saves |
“I love the way we started, I loved the first period. I like they way moved pucks around the special teams.” – Head Coach Dave Lowry
Crunk’s marker tied the franchise record for fastest goal to start a game, just 9 seconds in held by Ryan Howse.
The Blazers made a game of it with a pair of third period goals by Matt Needham and Matt Revel.
“At the end it’s a win. Give Kamloops credit, we gave them an opportunity to hang around and they took advantage of it. You get that fourth goal and it would’ve taken the wind out of their sails, but we didn’t get that last nail - and end up holding on.” Said Lowry
 |
| Polivka came up big |
Royals netminder Patrik Polivka made a game saving stop in the dying seconds to preserve the win, his 27th of the season.
Victoria outshot Kamloops 29-20, as Bolton Pouliot lost for a second night while making 26 saves. The Blazers wrapped up 10 straight on the road with a single victory, dropping their last 6th and will miss the post season.
Victoria wins the season series 7 games to 1, after dropping the first encounter of the year against Kamloops.
 |
| Brandon Magee behind the Blazers net |
Victoria had 9 different players with points in a balanced attack, and did so without Steven Hodges (Upper, day to day) and Keegan Kanzig (ill).
 |
| Royals continue to set franchise records |
Up next Victoria plays in Kelowna Tuesday and Vancouver Wednesday, before wrapping up the regular season with a pair against Everett in a home and home.
Victoria has locked up 3rd in the Conference, and will face the 6th seed in the West in round one of the playoffs. Their opponent is yet to be determined as just 5 points separate 4th from 6th. Seattle is in 4th with 86 points, Spokane 5th with 82 points and Everett is 6th with 81 points.
Seattle (86 pts) remaining games (4):
Mar. 11 Spokane Tuesday
Mar. 14 Portland Friday
Mar. 15 at Portland Saturday
Mar. 16 at Tri-City Saturday
Spokane (82 pts) remaining games (4):
Mar. 11 at Seattle Tuesday
Mar. 12 Everett Wednesday
Mar. 14 Tri-City Friday
Mar. 15 at Tri-City Saturday
Everett (81 pts) remaining games (4):
Mar. 12 at Spokane Wednesday
Mar. 14 at Victoria Friday
Mar. 15 Victoria Saturday
Mar. 16 at Portland Sunday
-Marlon Martens
Kamloops Blazers 2 at Victoria Royals 3 - Status: Final
Saturday, March 8, 2014 - Save-On-Foods Memorial Arena - Victoria, BC
Kamloops 0 0 2 - 2
Victoria 3 0 0 - 3
1st Period-
1, Victoria, Crunk 8 (Fisher, Carroll), 0:09.
2, Victoria, Cote 6 (Walker, Magee), 4:09 (PP).
3, Victoria, Soy 13 (Nelson, Palmer), 6:05.
Penalties-Sideroff Kam (tripping), 3:30.
2nd Period-
No Scoring.
Penalties-Clouston Kam (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 20:00; Carroll Vic (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 20:00.
3rd Period-
4, Kamloops, Needham 11 (Thomas), 5:54.
5, Kamloops, Revel 15 (Ully, Connolly), 15:55 (PP).
Penalties-Nelson Vic (slashing), 7:00; Reddekopp Vic (delay of game), 14:36.
Shots on Goal-
Kamloops 5-7-8-20.
Victoria 7-13-9-29.
Power Play Opportunities-
Kamloops 1 / 2;
Victoria 1 / 1.
Goalies-
Kamloops, Pouliot 7-28-0-2 (29 shots-26 saves).
Victoria, Polivka 27-11-0-2 (20 shots-18 saves).
A-7,006
Referees-Kevin Bennett (29), Mike Campbell (89).
Linesmen-Jacob Hill (122), Nathan Van Oosten (115).
