(Image credit: Facebook/Kamloops Blazers).

By Aaron Schulze

Thunderbirds 3 Blazers 2

Blazers bow out of playoffs, lose game seven to Thunderbirds 3-2

Jun 1, 2022 | 6:15 AM

KAMLOOPS — The Kamloops Blazers’ lengthiest postseason run in 23 years came to an end Tuesday (May 31) night in front of a packed Sandman Centre.

The Blazers were bounced from the Western Hockey League (WHL) playoffs, dropping game seven of the Western Conference Finals to the Seattle Thunderbirds 3-2.

Fraser Minten opened the scoring for the Blazers from the nearside left hashmarks nearly halfway through the first period, but the Blazers’ only lead of the game would last just over minutes after Jared Davidson finished a cross-ice pass on the Thunderbirds power play.

In the middle frame, the Blazers had an unfortunate time to have one of their poorer periods of the WHL playoffs. The Thunderbirds outshot the Blazers 20-7 and outscored them 2-0 to take a 3-1 lead after two periods. Luke Svejkovsky intercepted a pass near the blue line and sent the puck across the ice for Davidson’s second goal, then Henrik Rybinski scored on a one-timer off the faceoff.

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In the third periods, with their season on the line, the Blazers peppered the Thunderbirds, outshooting them 15-9. Daylan Kuefler scored from the side of the net with seven seconds remaining to make it 3-2, but the Blazers couldn’t score a miracle scramble goal to force overtime.

The Thunderbirds advance to the WHL Finals. They’ll play against the Eastern Conference champion Edmonton Oil Kings for the Ed Chynoweth Cup. Game one is on Friday (June 3).

Scoring Summary

First Period

1-0, Blazers, Fraser Minten (6) from Connor Levis and Daylan Kuefler, 8:34

1-1, Thunderbirds, Jared Davidson (10) from Lukas Svejkovsky and Kevin Korchinski (power play), 15:47

Second Period

2-1, Thunderbirds, Jared Davidson 2 (11) from Lukas Svejkovsky and Henrik Rybinski, 2:27

3-1, Thunderbirds, Henrik Rybinski (4) from Jeremy Hanzel and Lukas Svejkovsky, 14:56

Third Period

3-2, Blazers, Daylan Kuefler (10) from Quinn Schmiemann and Logan Stankoven, 19:53

Goaltending

Thomas Milic (W), Thunderbirds, 33 saves on 35 shots in 60 minutes played.

Dylan Garand (L), Blazers, 34 saves on 37 shots in 57 minutes played.