Royals take a bite out of the Beavers

TEMISCAMING, QUEBEC - The Temiscaming Royals battled back from an early 2-0 first period deficit to defeat the Blind Rivers 3-2 at the Centre in Temiscaming Friday night.

Tyler Stevenson, Benoit Fiset and Rylan Henley scored for the Royals.

After allowing 2 goals on the first 4 shots, Jim Murray was solid including turning aside 15 Beavers shots in the second period and 31 overall as he was named the game's 2nd star.

Alex Falardeau and Jake Watchhorn scored for the Beavers who hammered the Royals 8-3 on home ice last Saturday night.

With the win the Royals still have an opportunity to vault past the third place Sudbury Jr. Wolves in the East Division standings and avoid facing the first place North Bay Skyhawks in the opening round of the playoffs.

The Royals sit 4 points back in the standings with both clubs having two games left on the schedule. The Jr. Wolves have a home and home series with the Manitoulin Islanders this weekend while the Royals travel to North Bay Sunday night and then finish off the season with a make-up game in Iroquois Falls against the Eskimos on Wednesday.