BLAZERS FALL IN A SHOOTOUT 4-3

The Blazers started well but gave up a 2-0 lead and fell 4-3 in a shootout on Friday night in Victoria. Cole Ully opened the scoring as a blocked shot ended up on his stick and he beat goaltender Patrik Polivka five-hole to put the Blazers up 1-0 8:31 into the game. Ully recorded his second goal of the night putting home a rebound on the power play at 13:05 of the period and the Blazers led 2-0. Taran Kozun was sharp in goal stopping all 15 shots he faced in the period.

The Royals scored an early goal in the second period as Brett Cote's shot on the power play hit a Blazer defender and beat Kozun to make it 2-1 only 1:57 into the period. The Royals applied the pressure in the second period, and the Blazers could not seem to keep up. Kozun was sharp in goal during the period with 26 saves through two periods to perserve a 2-1 lead.

In the third period, the Royals continued to put the pressure on. Logan Nelson tied the game up as he walked out of the corner and tucked one by Kozun. The Royals took the lead 47 seconds later as Alex Gogolev's one-timer beat Kozun. The Royals held a 3-2 advantage 6:39 into the period with two quick goals. The Blazers still had life in them. Marek Hrbas tied the game up with 4:25 to play as he took a pass from Colin Smith and beat Polivka on the glove side.

Overtime solved nothing, and Logan Nelson scored the lone goal of the shootout for the Royals. Polivka stopped Colin Smith, Dylan Willick and Cole Ully to earn the win. Taran Kozun turned aside 35 shots, while Polivka made 21 saves in the game. The Blazers were 1-for-2 on the power play, while the Royals finished 1-for-3.

These two teams will play again Sunday afternoon at 1:00pm at the Save-on-Foods Centre in Victoria.

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