Olen Zellweger celebrates his goal in the first period of Game 2. The Blazers lead the series 2-0 (Image Credit: Allen Douglas / Kamloops Blazers)

By Chad Klassen

WHL PLAYOFFS

Blazers not looking ahead to sweep after dominant first two games

Apr 4, 2023 | 10:02 AM

KAMLOOPS — After the first two games of the series, it would be a safe assumption the Blazers are on their way to a four-game sweep of the Vancouver Giants.

The Giants put up more of a fight in Game 2, despite a 6-1 score, and the Blazers expect their best game at home in Game 3.

“Yeah they’re going to come out hard. Down 2-0, it’s got to be tough,” said Blazers’ goaltender Dylan Ernst, who had a shutout in Game 1. “We’ve got to be ready for that. We can’t take them lightly after these two games.”

Blazers’ forward Caedan Bankier, who has five points in the first two games, added: “We know it’s going to be tough, we know they’re going to come out strong. They’re at home, they’ve had a couple days to think up some new strategies and new plans, and we’re going to try and come out and play the same games that have been making us successful in the first two.”

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The Giants better come with their best game or the series indeed will be done. The Blazers have heavily outscored and outshot Vancouver in the first two wins of the series.

The Blazers are looking back at Game 3 of last year’s second-round series against the Giants when they gave up the first goal and lost 3-2.

“That first period in Game 3 is going to be the most important period,” said Blazers head coach Shaun Clouston. “We have to play our game. We can learn from the past. Game 3 last year against these guys didn’t go our way.”

The Blazers have been the kings of fast starts, scoring first in eight of their last 10 games. They came at the Giants, who didn’t know what happened, especially in Game 1 when Kamloops scored four goal in the first period.

The Blazers say they’re playing a simple game and it’s working.

“Just not turning pucks over and letting them get sustained pressure,” said Logan Stankoven, who had a hat-trick in Game 1. “I think beside the second period there where it was back and forth — our first and third period of Game 2 I thought we just made sure we kept it simple and some of their defenseman down low to make sure we could create some chances, instead of trying to force stuff off the rush and maybe turning pucks over where they can go back the other way and strike.”

The Blazers have also been incredibly physical the first two games, creating some of those opportunities.

“I wouldn’t want to go back there and get hit all game like we’re doing to them,” noted Bankier. “We’re just going to keep trying to do that to them and make it as hard and less fun as possible as we can. I think if we do that, we’ll be very successful.”

Game 3 is often a critical game in a best-of-seven series and the Blazers know the importance of Tuesday night’s contest.

“Yeah either we go up 3-0 or it’s 2-1 and they’re right back in the series. They’re going to be hungry. They’re at home now. They’re going to have the home crowd. It’s going to be huge, just coming out and making sure that we get a good start to our game and go from there because they’re still right in the series.”

Olen Zellweger added, “We want to win Game 3 for sure. We want to have a good start. We know we’re going to come out hard. They’re at home, they’re going to be looking to get back at us and we’re going to counter that with a good performance.”