Royals collect comeback victory over Islanders

The Manitoulin Islanders did everything in their power to skate to their third victory of the year against the Temiscaming Royals at Le Centre Friday night.

However, the Royals' firepower would prevail in the end as they scored four times in the third for an 8-6 win.

The Islanders scored the first three goals of the game before it was even eight minutes old and had the home team on the ropes early.

Former Royal Jonathan Hannums, who was recently traded to the Islanders, opened the scoring only after 2:18.

Four minutes later, Conner McNally made it 2-0 for the visitors and then at 7:25 Michael Schiavone gave the Islanders a quick three goal lead.

At one point in the first the shots were 12-1 Manitoulin.

While shorthanded, the Royals broke the goose egg as Samuel Sanford-Roy put one up in the roof of the net behind Avery Allen.

The period ended 3-1 in favour of Manitoulin. Shots were 15-7 Islanders.

The Royals tied the game in the first 2:30 of the middle period as Brandon Windsor picked the top corner on Allen then Cole Workman did the same on a 2-on-1 with Jean-Michel Naud assisting.

Conner McNally scored his second to give his team another lead 4-3. Andre Leclair replied at 13:34 on the power play to tie the score again. But with less than three minutes to play, Schiavone gave his team their third lead of the game. Shots were 24-11 Manitoulin.

The third period was owned by the Royals as they outscored the visitors 4-1. Leclair tallied on a clear breakaway tied the game only 27 seconds into the period. Workman earned his second at 2:52 on the power play to give the home team their first lead of the game 6-5.

The lead only lasted 63 seconds as Amit Grummit-Morris tied the score.

But then Leclair scored for the hat trick and then with less than two minutes to play Josh Blacksmith gave the home team a two-goal cushion.

Shots were 51-33 Manitoulin. The three stars were Leclair, who had three goals and an assist; Cole Workman with two goals and an assist; and Hannums with a goal and an assist for the Islanders.

Griffin Hodges also had three assists for the home side.

The Royals next game is Sunday against Abitibi with a 2 pm puck drop at Le Centre.