Kai Matthew had two goals and an assist to lead the Kamloops Blazers to a 3-1 win over the Victoria Royals in a Family Day Monday matinee at Sandman Centre.

Matteo Koci also had a goal and an assist while Dylan Ernst made 33 saves to give Kamloops their third win in their eighth and final game against their B.C. Division rival this season.

“I think the team let me see a lot of pucks today and it just felt like an easier game to me,” Ernst, who was named third star, said post-game. “They were boxing out great and they eliminated the great chances to maybe just a few a period, and I can handle that.”

Tyson Laventure opened the scoring for the visitors in the first period, but Matthew helped the Blazers pull back even when he tucked in a pass from Koci on a two-on-one.

Koci put some extra SAUCE on that dish to Matthew! 🍝 pic.twitter.com/2akhIqliwh

— Kamloops Blazers (@blazerhockey) February 19, 2024

The Blazers, who were a bit fortunate to end the first period tied at 1-1, took the lead through Koci’s fourth of the season, which came on a 5-on-3 power play at 7:35 of the second.

Koci scores. Koci cellys. 😎 pic.twitter.com/4SlsZV5UAL

— Kamloops Blazers (@blazerhockey) February 19, 2024

Koci’s goal came after the Royals were assessed a pair of minor penalties at 6:12, including two minutes to Alex Edwards for charging at Harrison Brunicke. The Blazers’ defenceman left the game holding his shoulder and did not return.

“It’s going to be a shoulder problem,” Blazers Associate Coach Don Hay said on After the Buzzer. “It was a late hit as far as I was concerned. The whistle had gone. Harrison was still kind of moving a little bit but he’s not open to a free hit and their guy, Edwards, came in with a hit.”

“[We sent Harrison] for X-rays, and we’ll know more after the doctor sees him. Hopefully it won’t be that serious.”

Because the hit on Brunicke was only called a minor on the ice, it won’t be reviewed by the League unless the Blazers seek supplemental discipline. Alex Edwards is the player in question. He served a 25 game suspension earlier this season for a hit in Everett.

— Jon Keen (@JonKeenNLSports) February 20, 2024

Down a skater, the Blazers bent often but did not break, in part due to Ernst, who picked up his 12th win of the season. Ernst got a bit of help from Cole Wadsworth, whose diving poke check foiled a Royals breakaway to help preserve the lead.

Matthew’s second of the night at 12:20 of the third period then gave the home team a bit of breathing room. They held on in front of a capacity crowd at Sandman Centre to pick up their second win in a row on parent’s weekend, and ninth in their last 13 games.

That’s ✌️ for Cobra Kai! 🐍 pic.twitter.com/74KheigSXN

— Kamloops Blazers (@blazerhockey) February 20, 2024

“A really good game overall. We did all the little things right, and yeah, we were firing on all cylinders,” Matthew, the game’s first star added.

Josh Kelly, who was named second star, had an assist on each of Matthew’s goals. Logan Bairos and Nathan Behm also picked up helpers Monday.

Victoria’s Braden Holt made 22 saves on 25 shots in a losing effort at Sandman Centre.

The win takes the Blazers to 18-31-3-2 this season, giving them 41 points in 54 games. They sit 10th in the 11-team Western Conference, two points ahead of the Seattle Thunderbirds who have played two fewer games.

The Royals drop to 27-22-4-4, and remain on 62 points from 57 games. They’re two points ahead of the Wenatchee Wild, who have played 54 games, for fourth place in the conference.

Next up for the Blazers is a Friday night rematch against the Prince George Cougars at Sandman Centre.

They’ll then head on the road for a game against the Vancouver Giants on Saturday and the Seattle Thunderbirds on Sunday.