ROYALS EDGE BLAZERS 4-2 IN VICTORIA

The Blazers had a great start but it didn't last in a 4-2 loss in Victoria on Friday night. The Blazers busted out of the gates scoring 8 seconds into the game as JC Lipon set up Tim Bozon and it was 1-0. Off the ensuing faceoff, the defenseman Tyler Hansen chipped the puck to Lipon who fed Bozon streaking in and all of a sudden the Blazers were up 2-0 only 15 seconds into the game. The Blazers played a good first period, but goaltender Keith Hamilton was on his game and played well the rest of the period. The Royals got a goal back on a faceoff as Robin Soudek blasted a shot by goaltender Cole Cheveldave to make 2-1 for the Blazers after the first period.

The second period was owned by the Royals. The Royals outshot the Blazers 16-5 and scored the only goals of the period. Defenseman Hayden Rintoul blasted a point shot past Cheveldave on the power play to tie the game at 2-2. The Royals took the lead late in the period as Ben Walker found a rebound and scored to make it 3-2 after two periods for the Royals.

In the third period, the Blazers were looking to tie the game. Defenseman Austin Madaisky blasted a shot but it rang off the post and stayed out. The Blazers ended up back in the box and the Royals converted on a nice feed to Brandon Magee who chipped a puck in to give the Royals a 4-2 lead. The Blazers had opportunties to tie it, but goaltender Keith Hamilton played well and shut the door to preserve a 4-2 Royals win. For the Blazers, it was their first regulation loss since December 30th. Shots were tied 35-35 by the end of the game with Cole Cheveldave suffering the loss in goal.

The Blazers will be back for redemption tomorrow night as they will play the second game of a doubleheader in Victoria. Game time is 7:00pm at the Save on Foods Memorial Centre.

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