Victoria (12-21-4-1) dropped game one of a two game set against Kamloops (25-11-1-0) tonight.
The Victoria offence struggled to find their footing all night, managing only 11 total shots. Forward Keanu Derungs had the lone goal in his team’s tenth straight loss.
Blazers forward Logan Stankoven had a goal and two assists in the 6-1 victory. The recently acquired Luke Toporowski added a pair of goals for Kamloops, he now has six goals in four games since joining the team earlier this month.
The Blazers jumped out to a 3-0 lead within the first five minutes of the game on goals by Luke Toporowski (20) at 0:50, Daylan Kuefler (18) at 3:22 and Fraser Minton (11) at 5:07. The three early markers prompted a goaltending change for the Royals, with Tyler Palmer coming into the game for Campbell Arnold after he surrendered three goals on eight shots. Palmer’s presence momentarily stopped the bleeding for Victoria, turning away the next 14 shots to keep it 3-0 heading into the second.
The Royals would get one back to start the second with Keanu Derungs 11th of the year coming at 1:42 of the period, with Riley Gannon recording the assist.
However, the Blazers would make it 4-1 on a Logan Stankoven goal (19) at 5:18. The Kamloops native has now recorded a point in eight straight contests. His team would score their fifth goal of the night at 16:45 with a goal by forward Reese Belton (8).
Kamloops would add one more in the third period on Logan Stankoven’s second of the game and 20th of the season on the way to sealing the 6-1 win over Victoria.
Royals goaltender Tyler Palmer made 39 of 42 saves after coming in for Campbell Arnold halfway through the first.
Dylan Garand saved all but one of the 11 shots Victoria put on net.
The two teams will meet again tomorrow night in the final game of their weekend series. Puck drop is set for 7 pm at the Sandman Centre in Kamloops.
