BLAZERS FALL 3-0 IN GAME 4
The Kamloops Blazers couldn’t muster a goal in a 3-0 loss to the Portland Winterhawks on Wednesday night in Game 4 of the Kal Tire Western Conference Final.
The Blazers were put in a hole early on being tagged with back-to-back penalties to start the game as the Winterhawks were handed a lengthy 5-on-3 power play. The Winterhawks took the gift and ran as Ty Rattie fed an open Nic Petan who scored to make it 1-0 Hawks only two minutes into the game. The Blazers weren’t at their best in the first frame, but they were keeping up to the Hawks. The Hawks added to their lead midway through the period. After sustained pressure in the offensive zone, a shot from Seth Jones squeaked through goaltender Cole Cheveldave to make it 2-0 Hawks.
The Blazers got back to their game in the second period taking it to the Hawks on the shot clock 16-5. The Blazers best chance came off the stick of JC Lipon who rung a shot off the post. A late power play for the Blazers created chances but goaltender Mac Carruth kept the puck out of the net as the game stayed 2-0 through two periods.
The Hawks extended the lead early in the third period as Nic Petan had a few whacks at the puck and pushed it in to make it 3-0 Hawks. The Blazers would have their chance late in the period as Keegan Iverson took a run at Brendan Ranford knocking his helmet off. Intially their was no call, but when Ranford struggled to get to his feet and did not return to the game, a 5-minute major for charging was given to Iverson. The Blazers had a couple of good chances on the power play but either missed the net or couldn’t get a stick on the puck. In the end, the Blazers fell 3-0 in the game and now trail the Hawks 3-1 in the best-of-seven series.
The Hawks went 1-for-7 on the power play, scoring on a 5-on-3, while the Blazers finished 0-for-4. Final shots on goal were 29-27 in favour of the Blazers.
Game 5 goes Friday night in Portland. Game 6, if neccessary, will be played on Sunday night in Kamloops.
GAME HIGHLIGHTS
