BLAZERS FALL 7-6 IN OVERTIME
The Kamloops Blazers welcomed the Prince George Cougars on Friday night for the opening game of a weekend back-to-back slate.
The first period wasted no time finding its rhythm. J.P. Hurlbert opened the scoring early, battling through traffic before snapping a quick shot past Joshua Ravensbergen to give Kamloops a 1-0 lead. Prince George responded with sustained pressure a fleury of chances but Logan Edmonstone stood tall.
The Cougars eventually broke through just past the 10 minute mark when Jett Lajoie found space at the top of the crease and scored the equalizer. Kamloops answered immediately, as Hurlbert struck again, rifling home his second of the night to restore the lead 2-1. Edmonstone then capped the period off with a highlight reel save, stretching across the crease in a full split to rob the Cougars of a tying goal.
Kamloops would come out flying to start the second period, Ty Coupland and Josh Evaschesen combined on a two-on-one rush, with Evaschesen burying the finish past Ravensbergen to extend the lead to two.
The momentum only built from there, as veteran defenceman Rhett Ravndahl hammered Carson Carels into the boards, erupting the Sandman Centre. The energy carried over to the ensuing power play, where Jordan Keller parked himself at the top of the crease and knocked home a goal to make it 4-1.
Prince George would then answer, as Arseni Anisimov’s point shot would find its way past Edmonstone to make it 4-2. , not long after that they struck again, cutting the lead to just one. The Cougars would go to the power play and Edmonstone would come up with another big stop on the doorstep keeping the Blazers ahead. But, the lead was taken away when Lajoie scored his second of the night to tie the game at 4-4.
The third opened with a high pace, as both teams played cautiously trying to get the lead for their respective teams. Kamloops nearly struck when Nathan Behm was all alone, but put a backhand shot wide. Prince George capitalized just over halfway through the frame as Lee Shurgot stuffed home a rebound to make it 5-4. The Blazers answered right back, as Jordan Keller fired a backhand shot on net that found its way through and tied the game at 5-5.
The Cougars regained the lead shortly after when Dimitri Yakutsenak snapped a rebound past Edmonstone to make it 6-5. Moments later, the Sandman Centre erupted as Hurlbert completed the hat trick, tying the game at 6-6, sending it to overtime.
In overtime, both teams played a mid level pace, resulting in limited chances. But, it was Lajoie scoring the winner for the Cougars, sealing the game 7-6.
Up next: Kamloops will play host to the Wenatchee Wild on Saturday night.
