Royals cool off Blazers in OT win

Victoria claws its way back from three-goal deficits to build on Friday’s victory

Down 3-0 after the opening period, the Victoria Royals caught fire to cool off the Kamloops Blazers in a 5-4 overtime win, twice recovering from three-goal deficits in Western Hockey League play on Saturday night in the B.C. Interior.

It was the second of three games in three days for the Royals, who were coming off a 5-0 victory at home on Friday against the Everett Silvertips.

Victoria will venture south of the border to face those same Silvertips this afternoon at 4.

Chaz Reddekopp bagged the game-winner in overtime, just 23 seconds into the extra session.

Royals captain Matt Phillips tied the game at 4-4 at 14:36 of the third period on a backhand as he recorded his 30th goal of the season. He also assisted on the game-winner for a two-point night.

Phillips’ goal came on a 4-on-4 situation and just after Jared Freadrich had scored on a Royals’ power play at 10:12 of the third as the visitors bounced back from a 4-2 deficit after two periods. They were also down 4-1.

Dino Kambeitz and Tyler Soy had the other Victoria goals. Soy’s tally extended his point-scoring streak to 11 games.

Strangely, it seemed as if the Blazers ran out of steam, despite not having played since they defeated the Royals 4-1 back on New Year’s Day.

Goaltender Griffen Outhouse made 32 saves for the win for the Royals, while Dylan Ferguson, of Lantzville, made 30 stops for Kamloops.

Nick Chyzowski, Garrett Pilon, Travis Walton and Joe Gatenby scored for the Blazers.

As far as today is concerned, both the Royals and Silvertips will be playing their third game in three days.

“It’ll be a difficult one. We need to make sure we’re using our full bench, if we can,” Royals head coach Dan Price said of the challenge of making it three straight victories.

Price said he would monitor how Outhouse is feeling before deciding who will play goal today.