BLAZERS COMEBACK TO WIN 5-4 OVER TIGERS
By Colton Davies – Follow Colton on X
The Kamloops Blazers hosted the Medicine Hat Tigers Friday for their first home game in nearly three weeks.
Kamloops nearly broke through right in the opening minute when JP Hurlbert found himself on a breakaway opportunity but was called back for offside. Blazers netminder Logan Edmonstone made a key glove save five minutes later on Tigers forward Ethan Neutens, keeping the game scoreless early.
The Blazers kept the pressure up and Chicago Blackhawks prospect Nathan Behm danced through the neutral zone but wasn’t able to generate a goal. Both teams traded chances as the first period came to a close.
The Tigers opened the scoring in the second when defenceman Tyson Moss buried his first WHL goal. The lead wouldn’t last long as Kamloops’ own Jordan Keller fired it home past Carter Casey for his sixth of the season to tie the game at 1-1.
Medicine Hat was quick to answer back as Misha Volotovskii found space in front of the net and beat Edmonstone. The pace ramped up from there with end-to-end chances at both ends to round out the period.
Kamloops came out flying to start the third, led by Hurlbert, who even attempted a Michigan but was denied by Casey. The Tigers generated a two-on-one opportunity but Edmonstone came up with another clutch glove save.
Medicine Hat would then strike, as Volotovskii scored his second of the night. But, the Blazers pushed back, and Kayd Ruedig jumped on a loose puck and fired it past Casey to cut the deficit to one, Ruedig’s first as a Blazer. Medicine Hat replied once more to regain a two-goal cushion, but Kamloops refused to fade. Kamloops then found themselves a 5-on-3 powerplay and took full advantage, Keller buried his second of the night, setting up a dramatic finish.
Then, with just 49.8 seconds remaining, Hurlbert faked a slapshot and snapped a wrist shot that Lafreniere deflected home to tie the game 4–4 and send it to overtime
Chances went back and forth in overtime, Hurlbert and Lafreniere shared opportunities before, Isa Guram sealed the comeback with a rocket past Casey to give the Blazers a thrilling 5–4 overtime win.
