(Image credit: Rob Wilton via Twitter/@blazerhockey).

By Aaron Schulze

Blazers 4 Giants 2

Blazers one win away from conference finals, beat Giants 4-2 in game four

May 13, 2022 | 7:05 AM

KAMLOOPS — The Kamloops Blazers are one win away from punching their ticket to the Western Hockey League (WHL) Western Conference Finals.

The Blazers took a 3-1 series lead in their second-round playoff matchup with the Vancouver Giants Thursday (May 12) after a 4-2 win in Game Four.

The Blazers opened the scoring late in the first period when Luke Toporowski roofed the puck on a backdoor play. However, the Giants answered back minutes later when Zack Ostapchuk scored on a breakaway.

For the final two periods, the Blazers outshot the Giants, 35-12. Caedan Bankier got the Blazers the lead again by finding a bouncing puck net front.

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Despite being outshot, the Giants tied the game again with Ostapchuk deflecting a sharp angle shot by Fabian Lysell and in. It took until just under three minutes to play for the Blazers to get the lead again with Logan Stankoven one-timing the puck in from the left circle on the power play.

Thanks to a Giants too many men penalty with under two minutes play, the Blazers were able to protect the lead on the power play. Stankoven iced the game with an empty net goal.

Game Five of the series goes down Friday night (May 13) at 7 p.m. from Sandman Centre. If the Blazers win, they’ll advance to the WHL Western Conference Finals for the first time since 2013.

Scoring Summary

First Period

1-0, Blazers, Luke Toporowski (6) from Drew Englot and Ethan Brandwood, 13:54

1-1, Giants, Zack Ostapchuk (4) from Fabian Lysell, 17:42

Second Period

2-1, Blazers, Caedan Bankier (4) from Daylan Kuefler, 12:59

Third Period

2-2, Giants, Zack Ostapchuk (5) from Fabian Lysell and Adam Hall, 6:21

3-2, Blazers, Logan Stankoven (8) from Quinn Schmiemann and Luke Toporowski (power play), 17:23

4-2, Blazers, Logan Stankoven 2 (9) from Quinn Schmiemann (power play, empty net), 19:52

Goaltending

Dylan Garand (W), Blazers, 18 saves on 20 shots in 60 minutes played.

Jesper Vikman (L), Giants, 39 saves on 42 shots in 60 minutes played.