A quick look at the official game report revealed the obvious.
The Deer Lake Red Wings took a 3-0 stranglehold on the West Coast Senior Hockey League best-of-seven final with a convincing 12-2 victory over the Corner Brook Royals Friday night at the Corner Brook Civic Centre.
The only department the Royals led in was the penalty department in a rough and tumble affair that featured four fights during the mid-way point of the second period with the Red Wings clearly in command.
There was no more room on the scoresheet for penalties when it came to the Royals, whereas the Red Wings only had one side of the sheet filled.
The Red Wings frustrated the Royals from start to finish.
Every bounce seemed to go in Deer Lake’s favour, but it was clear to everybody in the building it was the red and white team who outworked the opponent in what many felt was a do-or-die game for the Royals.
Two former Western Kings stars paved the way for Deer Lake with Shannon Moores scoring four times and Jalen Gillard adding three goals and two assists.
Wilf Bellows and Jeremy Bishop scored for the Royals in the third period, but it meant little as the damage was already done as the Red Wings left the building with a 3-0 lead heading into Game 4 Saturday night 7:30 p.m. at the Corner Brook Civic Centre.
Saturday’s game will serve as a home game for the Red Wings who had to hold the game in enemy territory because the Hodder Memorial Recreation Complex isn’t available with the closing ceremonies for the 2018 provincial Winter Games planned for Saturday evening in Deer Lake.
