BLAZERS FALL 7-4 IN GAME 3
By Colton Davies – Follow Colton on X
The Kamloops Blazers hosted the Kelowna Rockets for Game 3 of their first-round playoff series on Tuesday night, with Kelowna leading the series 2-0.
The Blazers came out with urgency, generating early chances from Vít Zahejský and Josh Evaschesen, but Boettiger stood tall and kept the game scoreless. Kelowna struck first, as Tij Iginla sniped a shot past Edmonstone to make it 1-0. The Rockets kept pressing, and Nate Corbet extended the lead when his shot trickled through Edmonstone and over the goal line. After review, the goal stood, making it 2–0. Kelowna would add to their lead when Shane Smith capitalized on a net front chance, making it 3-0 heading into the intermission.
Kamloops made a goaltending change to start the second, with Ivans Kufterins coming in for Edmonstone. The Blazers came out flying to start the middle frame as Jordan Keller struck just 12 seconds in to make it a 3-1 game. The Rockets answered back a few minutes later, as Iginla picked up his second goal of the night to restore the three-goal cushion. Kamloops refused to back down. Isa Guram blasted a shot from the point past Boettiger to bring the Blazers back within two at 4–2.
The physicality ramped up when Blazers’ Madden Tymchak finished a hard check on Rockets’ Nate Corbet, sending the Sandman Centre into a frenzy. Kamloops nearly made it a one-goal game late in the period, when Tommy Lafreniere made a slick move around Mazden Leslie, but his shot sailed high, keeping the game at 4-2.
Kelowna pulled away early in the third period, striking twice to take firm control of the game as Cihar and Ryan Oothoudt each found the back of the net, extending the lead to 6–2. The Blazers kept pressing, with chances coming from Owen Cooper and Zahejsky but Boettiger shut the door.
With just under seven minutes remaining, Kamloops found a spark. Captain Ryan Michael wired a shot from the blue line to cut the lead to 6–3. The momentum carried forward as Jacob Dumansky followed up with his second of the playoffs to make it a two goal game. Kelowna sealed the win with an empty-net goal, securing a 7–4 victory.
