The Victoria Royals (16-10-0-1, 33pts) scored 4 unanswered third period goals to defeat the visiting Kamloops Blazers 6-1 Friday night.
Patrik Polivka was the number star for a third game in a row with 34 saves, also his 3 straight win allowing just a single goal in each of those victories.
Victoria extends their winning streak to 3 games and victorious in 6 of their last 7, while Kamloops (6-16-2-1, 15pts) is now winless in 7 (0-6-1-0).
The Royals pull into a tie for 4th in the West with the Chiefs, who fell to the Winterhawks. Victoria is 3 ahead of Tri City, who were defeated by Kelowna.
Newcomer Axel Blomqvist earned an assist in his Royals debut, while generating multiple scoring opportunities. Luke Harrison was a physcial presence in his first game as a Blazer.
The line of Logan Nelson (1g 1a), Austin Carroll (1g 2a) and Ben Walker (1g 1a) combined for 7 points.
Victoria got goals from 6 different players in their biggest offensive output of the season. Taylor Crunk with his first of the season to open the scoring in the second period, followed up by Ben Walker :39 seconds later.
Chase Souto scored with one second remaining in the middle frame to cut the lead in half heading to the third period.
After being outshot 26-20 after 2 periods, Victoria poured it on in the third with 4 straight goals. Brandon Magee with a laser, top corner followed :34 seconds later by a spin around shot by Nelson. Austin Carroll struck on a breakaway during the power play and Brandon Fushimi set up by Blomqvist, put the Royals out of reach.
Victoria went 1 for 4 with the man advantage and stopped all 3 Kamloops opportunities, including a :44 second Blazer 5 on 3 in the first.
The Royals chased Taran Kozun from the nets in the third after allowing 4 goals on 24 shots. Bolton Pouliot went 7 for 9.
Victoria is now 12-0 when scoring the first goal of the game, and 11-0 when leading after 40 minutes.
The back half of the two game set, and third meeting in five days goes Saturday in Victoria. The Royals won 2-1 on the road against the Blazers on Tuesday.
-Marlon Martens
Kamloops Blazers 1 at Victoria Royals 6 - Status: Final
Friday, November 22, 2013 - Save-On-Foods Memorial Arena - Victoria, BC
Kamloops 0 1 0 - 1
Victoria 0 2 4 - 6
1st Period-
No Scoring.
Penalties-Grist Kam (tripping), 6:26; Crunk Vic (tripping), 12:55; Kanzig Vic (tripping), 14:11.
2nd Period-
1, Victoria, Crunk 1 (Gagnon, Fisher), 15:21.
2, Victoria, Walker 7 (Nelson, Carroll), 16:00.
3, Kamloops, Souto 16 (Needham, Connolly), 19:59.
Penalties-Chyzowski Kam (high sticking), 4:10; Clouston Kam (unsportsmanlike cnd., 10-minute misconduct), 7:51; Skapski Vic (checking to the head), 7:51; Carroll Vic (interference), 10:58; Kornelsen Kam (checking from behind), 16:08.
3rd Period-
4, Victoria, Magee 7 (Hodges), 5:10.
5, Victoria, Nelson 11 (Carroll, Walker), 5:44.
6, Victoria, Carroll 12 (Magee), 7:54 (PP).
7, Victoria, Fushimi 10 (Blomqvist), 12:25.
Penalties-Grist Kam (roughing), 7:25.
Shots on Goal-
Kamloops 17-9-9-35.
Victoria 8-12-13-33.
Power Play Opportunities-
Kamloops 0 / 3;
Victoria 1 / 4.
Goalies-
Kamloops, Kozun 1-10-2-0 (24 shots-20 saves); Pouliot 5-6-0-1 (9 shots-7 saves).
Victoria, Polivka 11-8-0-0 (35 shots-34 saves).
A-4,423
Referees-Pat Smith (12), Nick Swaine (35).
Linesmen-Devon Sephton (149), Nathan Van Oosten (115).
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