Royals split weekend series

The Royals celebrate after Brandon Blanche's overtime goal. The Royals have had their hands full with the King City Wild as the series is not tied 1-1. Photo by Carole Turner.

The Temiscaming Royals and King City Wild have their quarter final series tied at one game apiece following a pair of games over the weekend.

On Saturday, the Royals were handed their first loss in the playoffs as the Wild edged the visitors by a 4-2 score. Wild goal scorers were Derek Long, Matt Marchese, Keylan Marchant & Anthony Simone. Royals got their goals from Shane Desrochers & Cedric Boutin.

Kyle Parker got the win stopping 30 shots and Guillaume Piche took the loss facing 31 Wild shots.

Game 2 on Sunday afternoon saw the home team fall behind only one minute in the game on a goal by Matt Marchese. The remainder of the first period was scoreless. The Wild opened the scoring again in the first two minutes of the second frame with two quick goals only 46 seconds apart, Marchese getting his second of the game and then Simone. Only 70 seconds later, Corey Raymond brought the 337 cheering fans to their feet with a goal. That was it, 3 goals in a span of about one minute and 10 seconds.

The Royals got an early power play goal in the third by Felix Gilbert that seem to motivate the locals. The Wild regained their 2 goal advantage with Dan Douglas' goal with eight minutes left. Again the Royals fought back 17 seconds later with Cedric Boutin finding the back of the net. Then 2 straight goals by Justin Murray and Gilbert with his second put the Royals ahead 5-4 with 90 seconds left. But, a penalty to the Royals in the last minute allowed the Wild to pull their goalie for a 6 on 4 power play and managed to score the tying goal with only 32 seconds left in the game.

The shots on goal after three periods were 42-28 Royals.

The two team's went to their respective dressing rooms to prepare for sudden death overtime.

The first half of the overtime the Royals were pressuring the Wild and missed on several good chances to put the game away. Then in the last part of the period, the Wild were getting their chances. Guillaume Piche made a couple really nice stops in the extra period to keep it tied. With only 57 seconds left in the first overtime, Brandon Blanche scored the game winning goal on a scramble in front of Kyle Parker's goal to make the score 6-5 Royals.

Shots on goal during the overtime were 11-9 in favor of the Wild.

Guillaume Piche earned his fifth win, while Kyle Parker took the loss.


Game #3 in this 7 game series is scheduled for Tuesday at 8:00 p.m. at the Centre. Game #4 will be Friday at King City while Game #5 will be back in Temiscaming Saturday March 8th, game time 8:00 p.m.

Submitted to BayToday.ca