BLAZERS TAKE GAME 3 5-1 OVER HAWKS
The Kamloops Blazers won 5-1 over the Portland Winterhawks on Tuesday night in Game 3 of the Kal Tire Western Conference Final. The Winterhawks lead the best-of-seven series 2-1 with Game 4 going tomorrow night in Kamloops.
The Winterhawks opened the scoring as the Blazers were undisciplined early on. The Hawks were given a 5-on-3 power play and Ty Rattie ended up banging home his 14th of the playoffs for a 1-0 Winterhawks lead 5:32 into the game. The crowd was loud and behind the Blazers as it seemed the Blazers were starting to find their game creating chances in the period. The Blazers finally got things going on the power play as Colin Smith tipped home a shot from Tim Bozon at 16:37 of the period to tie the game up at 1-1 through the first period.
In the second period, the Blazers went to work. Colin Smith had the puck deep early in the period and waited for Joel Edmundson who came off the bench, as he pounded home his third goal of the playoffs to make it 2-1 Blazers 1:06 into the period. The fourth line of Devin Oakes, Joe Kornelsen and Aaron Macklin were getting some shifts and creating havoc in the Winterhawks zone. Some terrific work behind the Hawks net led to Aaron Macklin fooling goaltender Mac Carruth and stuffing home his third goal of the playoffs for a 3-1 Blazers lead midway through the period. The Blazers continued the onslaught as Matt Needham found Tim Bozon from off the bench as he buried his third goal of the playoffs to make it 4-1. Bozon wasn’t done as Colin Smith set him up on a breakaway and he scored his second of the night to make it 5-1 Blazers by the end of the second period.
The Hawks were trying to get back into it in the third period, but goaltender Cole Cheveldave shut the door and the Blazers defended well despite being outshot 12-3 in the period. The Blazers cruised on to a 5-1 win in Game 3 to make it a 2-1 series lead for the Hawks,
Cole Cheveldave was outstanding in goal making 35 saves for the Blazers, while Mac Carruth turned aside 24 shots for the Hawks. Both teams finished 1-for-5 on the power play.
