By Adam Donnelly

Blazers fall flat in final frame against Royals, down 2-1 in series

Mar 26, 2019 | 10:33 PM

KAMLOOPS — It looked as though the Kamloops Blazers got a game-changing moment early in the third period, but in hindsight, that change may have been in favour of the visitors.

At the 2:15 mark of the final frame with the game tied 1-1, Connor Zary found a loose puck behind the Royals net after Jermaine Loewen put a shorthanded scoring chance wide, then zipped behind the net to Griffen Outhouse’s right and tucked it past the Victoria netminder.

It felt like that was the breakthrough moment the Blazers had been looking for, as they outplayed the Royals in the second period but couldn’t find the go-ahead goal – but was it?

Victoria drew first blood in game three, as Carson Miller opened the scoring for the Royals. On a 2-on-1 rush, Jameson Murray’s shot ricocheted off Ferguson, then hit the crossbar. Ferguson reacted as if it was in, but Blazers defenceman Luke Zazula raced as if the puck stayed out, and tried to swipe it out of harm’s way. Carson Miller was in the right place at the right time and banged home the loose puck to give the Royals the lead.

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Less than 90 seconds later, Jermaine Loewen even the score, as he found a bounce off the end wall and tucked it past Outhouse to knot the game at one.

After a scoreless second, it appeared Kamloops landed a big blow with Zary’s shorthanded go-ahead goal early in the third, but on the very next play, the Royals tied it on a wraparound of their own. Brandon Cutler put on a burst to beat his man, then circled the net and found some space between Ferguson’s right pad and the post to even things at two.

The Royals would take the lead at the 8:08 mark of the final frame. Veteran defenceman Scott Walford would carry across the Blazers blueline, drawing Jackson Caller out of position and opening a lane for Kody McDonald to walk in and tuck it between Ferguson’s legs.

Outhouse shut the door the rest of the way for the Royals, stopping 32 of 34 shots faced in the victory. Ferguson made 28 saves on 31 shots in a losing effort.

WATCH POST GAME REACTION FROM BOTH COACHES: