Logan Stankoven celebrating a goal against the Giants this season (Image Credit: Allen Douglas / Kamloops Blazers)

By Chad Klassen

BLAZERS-GIANTS PREVIEW

Blazers to lean on speed, depth to continue winning ways against Giants

May 6, 2022 | 11:20 AM

KAMLOOPS — In the 10 wins this season over Vancouver this season, the Blazers felt their overwhelming speed and skill were too much for the Giants to handle.

They believe that — and their depth — is the recipe for a second-round win.

“I just think our speed. We have a fast team, and obviously our depth comes into that as well, but being able to utilize our speed against their defensemen and getting in on the forecheck, creating plays off the rush, it’s going to be really big for this series,” said Logan Stankoven, who had 13 points in four games against Spokane in the opening round. “We know they’re going to play physical like they did against us all year, so we’re not going to be surprised by that at all.”

Forward Fraser Minten added, “We’re a faster team, we’ve got good depth. I think those are big advantages going into the series. We’re going to make use of that — play fast, play a fast-paced game out there.”

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Blazers head coach Shaun Clouston says it has been their strength all season and his team will lean on those qualities to get by the Giants.

“We have to play to our identity and prepare for a real hard series,” said Clouston. “Just approach it shift-by-shift. We’ve done a real good job of that all season, so that would be the game plan is to try to replicate that.”

The Giants boast one of the hottest lines in the West — alongside the Blazers’ Stankoven-Luke Toporowski-Drew Englot line. Vancouver captain Zack Ostapchuk, Fabian Lysell and Adam Hall combined for 41 points against Everett.

However, the Blazers are confident in their depth and ability to shut down Vancouver’s top line.

“Every line on this team can score. We have great defense and a great goalie, so we don’t have to be worried about our depth at all,” said Logan Stankoven. “Any line can go up against any other Vancouver line out there. For us, it’s just doing the little things right — going to the net, getting lots of shots on net, and obviously we’ve got to beat their goalie. [Jesper Vikman] is a good goalie.”

Giants captain Zach Ostapchuk, who leads the WHL in playoff scoring with 16 points, added: “They’re a very good team, highly skilled, they have a lot of guys that can put the puck in the net. I think we’re just going to have to play them heavy, find a game plan and stick to that because that’s what worked against Everett.”

The Giants know the Blazers will be coming out of the gates fast and need the weather the early storm at Sandman Centre.

“They’re going to try to strike early. They want to get their crowd involved. They have a lot of energy in the building right now,” said Giants coach Michael Dyck. “They’re the type of team that builds off momentum, so I think our starts are going to be really important.”

In the first playoff series between Kamloops and Vancouver since 2010, the bitter B.C. Division rivals know it’s going to be intense.

“We don’t like these guys and I’m sure they don’t like us either. That’s just how it’s been for a while. We’re really excited to get going,” said Ostapchuk.

Game 1 is Friday night (May 6) at the Sandman Centre, while Game 2 is Saturday (May 7).