(Image credit: Brian Liesse via Facebook/Kamloops Blazers).

By Aaron Schulze

Blazers 6 Thunderbirds 3

Stankoven scores fourth hat trick of playoffs, Blazers take 2-1 series lead over Thunderbirds

May 25, 2022 | 6:33 AM

KAMLOOPS — The Kamloops Blazers scored early – 27 seconds in – and often in game three of the Western Hockey League (WHL) Western Conference Finals against the Seattle Thunderbirds Tuesday (May 24).

Logan Stankoven was left all alone to give the Blazers the early lead in Washington State. The Blazers then followed up with two goals 18 seconds apart: a Daylan Kuefler tip on the power play and Stankoven putting back a rebound that Thunderbirds goaltender Thomas Milic couldn’t hang on to. The Thunderbirds would get on the board before the first period ended, cutting the Blazers’ lead to 3-1.

The Thunderbirds cut their deficit to 3-2 halfway through the second period although the Blazers restored their two-goal lead thanks to a slap shot from the blueline from Quinn Schmiemann.

Kuefler scored his second goal of the game off the rush late in the third period to extend the Blazers lead to 5-2. While the Thunderbirds added a late power play goal, Stankoven would hit the empty net from his zone to secure a 6-3 win. It was Stankoven’s fourth hat trick of the 2022 WHL playoffs, his second of the Western Conference Finals.

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The Blazers lead the best-of-seven Western Conference Finals series 2-1. Game four on the road is set to take place Wednesday (May 25) at 7:05 p.m. as the Blazers will look to give themselves a chance to win the series for game five on Friday (May 27) at Sandman Centre.

Scoring Summary

First Period

1-0, Blazers, Logan Stankoven (15) from Drew Englot and Quinn Schmiemann, 0:27

2-0, Blazers, Daylan Kuefler (5) from Quinn Schmiemann and Luke Toporowski (power play), 11:21

3-0, Blazers, Logan Stankoven 2 (16) from Luke Toporowski, 11:19

3-1, Thunderbirds, Kevin Korchinski (5) from Tyrel Bauer and Lukas Svejkovsky, 18:38

Second Period

3-2, Thunderbirds, Jared Davidson (8) from Nico Myatovic and Tyrel Bauer, 13:25

4-2, Blazers, Quinn Schmiemann (2) from Connor Levis, 17:58

Third Period

5-2, Blazers, Daylan Kuefler 2 (6) from Fraser Minten and Connor Levis, 13:16

5-3, Thunderbirds, Matthew Rempe (5) from Reid Schaefer and Jared Davidson (power play), 16:13

6-3, Blazers, Logan Stankoven 3 (17) unassisted (empty net), 18:45

Goaltending

Dylan Garand (W), Blazers, 27 saves on 30 shots in 60 minutes played.

Thomas Milic (L), Thunderbirds, 23 saves on 28 shots in 59 minutes played.