Ryan Keis (26) and Keaton Gordon get in on the forecheck during third period action in Game 3. Allen Douglas/KTW
The Kamloops Storm picked up Game 3 right where they left off in Game 2.
Dexter Robinson scored just 28 seconds into the first period on Saturday, March 14, and the Kamloops Storm led from start to finish, defeating the Osoyoos Coyotes 6-3 on McArthur Island.
Robinson also scored the game-winning goal in Kamloops’ 4-3 double-overtime victory in Game 2.
The Storm now hold a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. Game 4 goes on Sunday at 5 p.m.
“They’re a good team. We got them on a lucky day and we know they’re going to be coming back strong tomorrow,” said Storm head coach Ed Patterson.
“We’re done celebrating this one. We’re getting ready for tomorrow.”
With Game 2 still fresh in their minds, Kamloops got out to a quick start in Game 3. After Robinson’s goal, Kyle Lohmann put the Storm ahead 2-0 just 27 seconds later. Ryan Keis would extend the lead to three before time ran out in the first frame.
“They had some bus legs, little sleepy getting off the bus, so we took advantage of it,” Patterson said of the quick start. “But, that definitely won’t be there tomorrow.”
Keis was a little more uncertain where the quick start came from.
“Honestly, I don’t know because we didn’t have a very good warmup,” the forward said with a laugh. “Dexter, he took off and burned the guy wide and we all just fed off of it.”
In the second frame, the Coyotes came out with a renewed effort. Troy Maclise broke Jacob Mullen’s shutout bid, scoring Osoyoos’ first goal of the game on a shorthanded chance in the first minute of play.
Robinson would again score, putting the Storm ahead 4-1, before Aaron Azevedo and Brett Jewell brought the Coyotes within one, scoring to make it 4-3.
Azevedo, Jewell and Maclise are all tied for the league lead in playoff scoring with 16 points apiece.
That would be as close as Osoyoos would get however, as the Storm would get a pair of goals from Mitch Friesen — one in the second period and one to start the third — to skate away with the 6-3 win.
“We played really well in Game 2 and showed [tonight] that that wasn’t a fluke and we can out-compete and out-play these guys,” Keis said after the game. “We’ve just got to make sure we come back with that effort every game and, hopefully, the series will turn out the way we want it to.”
The final moments of the Game 3 saw things get a bit heated between the two clubs, as a frustrated Coyotes team looked to leave a mark heading into Game 4.
Both Patterson and Keis said that’s to be expected.
“Every team is like that, you can’t blame them,” Keis said. “Every team does that.
“When you’re down by three goals with a minute left, you’re frustrated and upset, so you’re going to be playing chippy and trying to intimidate for the next game.”
“It’s hockey. It’s playoff hockey and nobody wants to lose,” Patterson echoed.
“Guys from that team are pretty much all from last year — they have a bad taste from us beating them last year. That’s playoffs, that’s what you want to see.”
The Storm out-shot the Coyotes, 35-31. Mullen stopped 28 shots.
Kamloops was 1-for-6 on the power play, surrendering one shorthanded goal, and is now 2-for-18 in the series. The Storm were also 2-for-2 on the penalty kill.
Overtime — On the injury front, there may be more bad news for the Storm, as both defenceman Kyle Lohmann and forward Addison Bazian left the game with injuries. The Storm are already without captain Felix Larouche (injury) and defenceman Marc DuMont (suspension).
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