Royals grab lead back, can close out series in Kamloops on Monday
-
Share on Facebook
-
Share on Twitter
- Copy Link
VICTORIA, B.C. — The Royals knew they needed to get home to the Island after a pair of emotional games in Kamloops, and some home cooking is exactly what they needed to turn the series back in their favour.
In fact, it only took them 1:27 to score the opener in Game 5 on their way to a 6-3 win Saturday night, flipping the script from their ugly Game 4 defeat on Wednesday evening that was highlighted by Kody McDonald’s match penalty and indefinite suspension after a stick-swinging incident at the benches.
D-Jay Jarome got Victoria started in front of its 5,856 crowd at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Arena. The Blazers tied it up on a Ryley Appelt goal, but the Royals’ Philip Schultz scored what would be his first of a hat-trick on the night to give the home side a 2-1 lead after the first.
Victoria scored twice in the middle frame to stretch the lead to 4-1, including Schultz’s second of the game and eventual game-winner and the first goal of the playoffs from rookie defenseman Noah Lamb, who was the game’s second star. Schultz’s second goal spelled the end of Dylan Ferguson’s night after allowing four goals on 14 shots. He was replaced by Victoria native Dylan Garand who played 23 minutes, making nine saves and allowing no goals.
