Victoria tripped up by Kamloops 4-3; club plays Game 3 in Kamloops on Tuesday.

Victoria-Royals-vs_Kamloops-Blazers-2019-03-23-8504676-Edit
Victoria’s Carson Miller is taken down in a headlock by Brodi Stuart (17) and gets a 2 minutes penalty for Checking to the head during second-period action.  Photo by Gord Rufh ISN Sports
Photo by Gord Rufh ISN Sports
Blazers Kyrell Sopotyk put the puck past Griffen Outhouse to make it 3-2 Kamloops during the third period. Photo by Gord Rufh ISN Sports

Victoria, BC – The Victoria Royals dropped Game 2 to the Kamloops Blazers 4-3 in overtime, on Saturday night at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre. The best-of-seven series is now tied 1-1.

Photo by Gord Rufh ISN Sports
Royals putting on the pressure in overtime. Photo by Gord Rufh ISN Sports

Game Summary:

Gamesheetbit.ly/2TtZqu6.

Game Galleriesbit.ly/2Fmwb7w.

Victoria-Royals-vs_Kamloops-Blazers-2019-03-23-8504931-Edit
Blazers Dyan Ferguson makes a great save during Overtime. Photo by Gord Rufh ISN Sports

Scoring:

Royals – Kody McDonald 2g-0a, Scott Walford 0g-2a, Phillip Schultz 0g-2a, Carson Miller 1g-0a, Tarun Fizer 0g-1a, Igor Martynov 0g-1a.

Victoria-Royals-vs_Kamloops-Blazers-2019-03-23-8504906-Edit
Photo by Gord Rufh ISN Sports

Kamloops – Kyrell Sopotyk 2g-0a, Brodi Stuart 1g-1a, Jermaine Loewen 1g-1a (Game Winner), Josh Pillar 0g-1a, Joonas Sillanpaa 0g-1a, Montana Onyebuchi 0g-1a, Logan Stankoven 0g-1a, Martin Lang 0g-1a, Sean Strange 0g-1a.

Victoria-Royals-vs_Kamloops-Blazers-2019-03-23-8504624-Edit
Photo by Gord Rufh ISN Sports

Goaltending:

Royals – Griffen Outhouse (L) – 65:14 mins, 31 saves on 35 shots.

Kamloops – Dylan Ferguson (W) – 65:14 mins, 39 saves on 42 shots.

 

Victoria-Royals-vs_Kamloops-Blazers-2019-03-23-8504507-Edit
Photo by Gord Rufh ISN Sports

Powerplay:

Royals – 2/5 = 40.0%.

Kamloops – 1/2 = 50.0%.

Notes:

 

Victoria-Royals-vs_Kamloops-Blazers-2019-03-23-8504474-Edit
Photo by Gord Rufh ISN Sports

Overtime Games: This evening marked the 12th time in Royals’ playoff history that the club has played in overtime. In those contests, Victoria is 6-6.

 

Victoria-Royals-vs_Kamloops-Blazers-2019-03-23-8504448-Edit
Photo by Gord Rufh ISN Sports

Game 2: The Victoria Royals’ overtime loss was the first time that they have been defeated in Game 2 of a first-round series since March 23, 2013.

 

Victoria-Royals-vs_Kamloops-Blazers-2019-03-23-8504650-EditPostseason Experience: This Round 1 series between the Victoria Royals and Kamloops Blazers has a combined 346 games worth of playoff experience. Victoria holds the edge with 242 games played. Meanwhile, the Blazers’ roster has 104 postseason appearances.

 

Victoria-Royals-vs_Kamloops-Blazers-2019-03-23-8504483-Edit
Fans react to the referee’s call. Photo by Gord Rufh ISN Sports

First Playoff Game: In tonight’s contest, Royals’ defencemen Carson Golder and Jameson Murray made their first WHL postseason appearances.

 

Island Connection: Kamloops Blazers’ goaltender Dylan Ferguson made his first career WHL playoff appearance and start. The native of Lantzville, BC was drafted by Kamloops in the eighth round, 166th overall, in the 2013 WHL Bantam Draft.

 

Victoria-Royals-vs_Kamloops-Blazers-2019-03-23-7509318-Edit
Photo by Gord Rufh ISN Sports

Up Next: The Royals continue their Round 1 match-up against the Kamloops Blazers on Tuesday, March 26th and Wednesday, March 27th at the Sandman Centre in Kamloops, BC. Puck drop for both contests is at 7:00 p.m.

Victoria-Royals-vs_Kamloops-Blazers-2019-03-23-8504723-Edit
Photo by Gord Rufh ISN Sports

Back at the Barn: Victoria returns home on Saturday, March 30th for Game 5 against Kamloops. Puck drop is at 7:05 p.m. Tickets can be purchased in person at the Select Your Tickets box office, over the phone by calling 250-220-7777, or online at www.selectyourtickets.com.

Round 1 Playoff Schedule: The Royals’ first round playoff schedule against the Kamloops Blazers is as follows:

Victoria-Royals-vs_Kamloops-Blazers-2019-03-23-7509340-Edit
Photo by Gord Rufh ISN Sports

Game 3 – Tuesday, March 26th – Sandman Centre – 7:00 p.m.

Game 4 – Wednesday, March 27th – Sandman Centre – 7:00 p.m.

Game 5 – Saturday, March 30th – Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre – 7:05 p.m.

Game 6 – Monday, April 1st – Sandman Centre – 7:00 p.m. (If necessary)

Game 7 – Wednesday April 3rd – Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre – 7:05 p.m. (If necessary)

Victoria-Royals-vs_Kamloops-Blazers-2019-03-23-7509370-Edit
A Royals fan meets Marty!. Photo by Gord Rufh ISN Sports
Victoria-Royals-vs_Kamloops-Blazers-2019-03-23-7509378-Edit
More Royals Fan! Photo by Gord Rufh ISN Sports