No late period heroics for the Kamloops Blazers this time around.
Kyrell Sopotyk had the tying goal on his stick with seconds remaining, but the Blazers were beaten 3-2 by the Victoria Royals in game three at Sandman Centre.
“I thought that we didn’t do enough of what we needed to do to be as successful as we could have been,” said head coach Serge Lajoie. “I think we got away from how we need to play.”
“We didn’t invest enough in terms of putting pucks in good areas and being relentless on their defencemen.”
The Royals opened the scoring through Carson Miller in the first, but Jermaine Loewen tied things up 1:27 later, and that’s how the first period ended at 1-1.
Loewen would lead all skaters with two points, a goal and an assist.
There were no goals in the second period, which got feisty as the game progressed, but Connor Zary brought the building to life with yet another shorthanded goal, at 2:15 in the third period.
That lead however was short-lived as Brandon Cutler equalized 2:33 later with a wraparound past a sprawling Dylan Ferguson, before Kody McDonald scored what turned out to the game winner at 8:08 in the third period.
Ferguson finished with 28 saves in the Blazers net, while Griffen Outhouse got the win with a 32 save effort.
The Royals lead the best-of-seven series 2-1, with game four at Sandman Centre tomorrow, March 27.
Puck drop is at 7 PM.
(Photo via Allen Douglas)
Game highlights here.
Kyrell Sopotyk, so close to the tying goal late in the third.@blazerhockey drop Game three 3-2 over the @victoriaroyals.
Back again for Game 4 tomorrow at Sandman Centre.
Shots 34-31 for #Kamloops pic.twitter.com/SFdoVlJZQj
— Victor Mario Kaisar (@supermario_47) March 27, 2019
If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. #VICvsKAM | #WHLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/PVnNBbsn7I
— The WHL (@TheWHL) March 27, 2019
Blazer Coach Serge Lajoie after a game three 3-2 setback to Victoria. WATCH 🎥 pic.twitter.com/NY1iDFqDMx
— Kamloops Blazers (@blazerhockey) March 27, 2019
Credit Royals. Took the Blazers best punch after that Zary SH goal and bounced. ask. Unlike the Rockets last week, they didn’t fold up. Scored two to take the lead. Entertaining game. Playoff hockey. #Kamloops
— Jon Keen (@JonKeenNLSports) March 27, 2019
