BLAZERS WIN THRILLER 4-3 IN KELOWNA
While Canada and the USA faced off in Montreal, Quebec, for the NHL’s 4 Nations Face-Off, another heated rivalry was unfolding out west.
B.C. Division rivals Kamloops Blazers and Kelowna Rockets clashed at Prospera Place for the second game of their back-to-back series. Kamloops took Friday’s matchup 3-1, snapping a five-game losing streak and securing their 19th win of the regular season—a crucial victory in their playoff push.
The first period saw Logan Edmonstone making his eighth consecutive start as Kamloops continued to await the return of veteran goaltender Dylan Ernst. The opening 10 minutes featured steady action on both sides. Vit Zahejsky, still searching for his first goal since February 2nd, was denied by Rockets netminder Rhett Stoesser. The Blazers grabbed their first powerplay of the night which connected three times on Friday but was unable to produce on their first crack at it. As the first period winded down, it was Kayden Longley striking first for the Rockets beating Edmonstone on his glove hand to open the scoring, a flip of the script from Friday night’s game.
The second period brought more scoring. Michael Cicek doubled Kelowna’s lead to 2-0, while Kamloops forward Tommy Lafrenière continued to generate chances, flying into the offensive zone but getting turned aside by Stoesser. Kamloops then went to the man advantage and cycled the puck well in Kelowna’s zone before Pittsburgh Penguins prospect Harrison Brunicke fired a shot from the blue line to cut the Rockets lead to just one with 3:00 minutes remaining in the period. However, Kelowna quickly responded, as Levi Benson snapped one home to restore the two-goal cushion, making it 3-1 heading into the third.
The action continued in the third with big saves coming from Edmonstone shutting down the Rockets. The Blazers then got some step in their game and it was Max Sullivan scoring his seventh of the season cutting the lead to one. Not long after that, Matteo Koci fired a shot from the point which beat Stoesser but was called back for goaltender interference. Kamloops then went to work again, and it was Josh Kelly finding the back of the net from Lafrenière and Jordan Keller for his fourth goal of the season and his second goal in five games. With just six seconds remaining in regulation, Lafrenière delivered the dagger, weaving through the zone and netting his 21st goal of the season to complete the comeback victory.
Kamloops sweeps the weekend series against Kelowna, improving to 20 wins on the season. The Blazers will return home to host the Spokane Chiefs in a 2:00 p.m. matinee on Monday.