The Prince Albert Titans did not go quietly into the night as their first trip to the Prairie Junior Hockey League playoffs in eight years came to an end on Thursday night in Saskatoon.
In a game that was much closer than the final score would indicate, the third ranked Saskatoon Royals picked up an 8-4 win over the sixth seeded Titans in the deciding contest of their best-of-three opening round series at the Rod Hamm Arena.
Both teams traded blows until the five-and-a-half minute mark of the third period as the Royals scored a pair of goals in a 19-second span to take a 6-4 lead.
Adam Power led the way for the hosts with two goals and an assist, while Damon Vanderlinde had a goal and two assists.
Connor Long potted a pair of goals for the Royals, who also got offensive contributions from Hunter Steinhubel, Dylan Francis and Nicholas Erickson.
Ashton Morin and Jakob Tournier had a goal and an assist each for the Titans in the loss, which saw Dillan Saworski and Kevin Ledoux light the lamp.
Carson Schewaga made 33 saves for the visitors and Dawson Cochrane stopped 32 shots in a winning effort.
While the Titans season is now over, the Royals will now gear up to face the second seeded Delisle Chiefs in a best-of-seven quarter-final round series that starts on Saturday.
