BLAZERS FALL 5-4 IN OVERTIME TO GIANTS
By Colton Davies – Follow Colton on X
The Kamloops Blazers hosted the Vancouver Giants on Saturday night on the second game of a triple header this weekend.
The opening frame got off to a slow start. During a 5-on-3 power play for the Giants, they appeared to score, but the goal was waved off for a gloved puck. Vancouver answered right after as Cameron Schmidt roofed one on Ivans Kufterins to make it 1-0.
Kamloops pushed back, with a high danger chance came from Ty Bonkowski on a breakaway but was denied by goaltender Kelton Pyne.
The Giants would then double their lead, when Brett Olson beat Kufterins on the powerplay to make it 2-0. Kamloops would respond as Jordan Keller set up the play into the offensive zone and and buried a wicked pass from Jacob Dumansky for his eighth of the season.
The second period opened with a back-and-forth pace and few high-danger chances early on. Kamloops broke through midway as Keller notched his second of the night on the powerplay to tie the game at 2-2. Keller would then complete the hat trick on a feed from Isa Guram that found him in the bumper slot.
The Blazers kept the momentum going and Tommy Lafreniere sprung Josh Evaschesen on a breakaway to make it 4-2. Vancouver answered right back and it was Schmidt scoring his second of the night, and then tied it moments later on Leonardo Domenichelli’s first career WHL goal. The Blazers appeared to reclaim the lead at the buzzer on a hard-working effort from Cooper Moore but was called off.
Kamloops started the third on the powerplay but were unable to generate a scoring opportunity. Kufterins then came up with a big save, robbing Schmidt on the doorstep to keep it tied. Cooper Moore nearly put the Blazers ahead shortly after, ringing a shot off the post. The chances kept coming for the Blazers, as they peppered Pyne with shots but Pyne stood tall between the pipes for the Giants sending the game to overtime.
Overtime started with lots of energy, as Pyne robbed Keller of a fourth goal and denied Lafreniere on a prime chance moments later. The Giants finally ended it on a two-on-one rush, with Ty Halaburda burying the winner to seal a 5–4 Vancouver victory.
