Everything was looking good for the ‘Roos as the final seconds of the first period counted down.
They were up on top and looking for their fourth straight win, but it all came crashing down in the last quarter of the second, as the ‘Roos went on to lose against the Stamps, 8-5.
Kozak called the game a learning experience, saying the team needs to learn how to protect the house, but was happy overall.
“I really enjoyed the way the team played as a unit,” he said.
It was Tyrell Turgeon who opened the scoring Friday, starting the ‘Roos off right less than five minutes into the game with the help of Rigby Burgart.
The Stamps responded two and a half minutes later. With Scott Machan in the box, Matt Lees put in the power play goal to even out the game.
In the last six minutes of the period, the ‘Roos jumped in front, with Joel Boyetchko bumping the ‘Roos ahead at 14:41 with the help of Matt Stang. Stang took advantage of a power play to give the ‘Roos the two-goal cushion at 17:30, with Justin Fulton and Turgeon helping.
In the second, the promise fell apart, starting with Jassi Sangha putting it past ‘Roos goalie Shane Mainprize within the first 30 seconds on a power play left over after Alessio Tomassetti got nicked for roughing in the last minute of the first.
Twenty five seconds later Burgart, with Turgeon the helper this time, got his first of the night to cancel out Sangha’s goal and keep the ‘Roos on a comfy cushion.
The game started to get physical, and at 12:19, Cory Grabovski and Jared Kohlen threw down the gloves, resulting in an expulsion for them both, which weakened the ‘Roos.
“We lost a key defenceman and they were able to take some liberties from that,” Kozak said.
It was Tyrell Lucas who took advantage of that hole. At 14:59 he started a juggernaut of a goal train – dominating the last five minutes with an undisturbed hat trick to change the flow of the game dramatically.
With Lucas’ heroics, the Stamps came out of the second up a goal and riding a tsunami of momentum.
In the third, the Stamps turned around the first period’s score.
Lucas opened up the scoring, proving his dominance in the game with an unassisted, short-handed goal at 12:34.
Stang responded a couple minutes later with help from Fulton while the ‘Roos were on the power play, but it was the Stamps who would have the last say in the game.
Lucas put his fifth and last goal of the night in at 16:30, putting the Stamps ahead by two.
Kozak pulled the goalie with less than a minute left in an effort to even up the score, but Francis Johnson put in the empty netter to kill the dream and cement the 8-5 win.
The ‘Roos are home this weekend for a double header. Saturday, the Kangaroos face off against the Lac La Hache Tomahawks at 7:30 p.m. and against the Prince Rupert Rampage at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
