The Blazers can sweep Vancouver with a win on Thursday night (Image Credit: Vancouver Giants)

By Chad Klassen

WHL PLAYOFFS

Blazers look to sweep Giants, make WHL history

Apr 6, 2023 | 4:57 PM

KAMLOOPS — The Kamloops Blazers are in a different stratosphere compared to the Vancouver Giants.

While there have been moments when games have been fairly close, the Blazers have never been in danger of losing in this series.

They’ve outscored the Giants 19-1 and are looking to finish them off for good on Thursday night (Apr. 6).

“Yeah, you want to shut team’s down as fast as you can,” said forward Daylan Kuefler, who will miss Game 4 on Thursday night with an undisclosed injury. “You don’t want to give them life to maybe push it to five, six, seven. So that’s what we’re looking to do, find a way to close out the series.”

If the Blazers win, a very likely scenario, it would mark back-to-back years sweeping the first round. They defeated Spokane in four straight last spring.

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Not only have the Blazers won all three games, they’ve done it in dominating fashion with 19 goals for and one goal against.

According to the Western Hockey League, the 2006 Vancouver Giants — coached by Don Hay, an assistant with Kamloops — hold the record for fewest goals against in a series with two against Everett in the Western Conference Final.

With another shutout against Vancouver, Kamloops would break that record.

“Just the consistency and attention to detail,” noted forward Ryan Hofer on the team’s success so far. “We don’t want to give up too much. We’re just trying to play hard and play to our systems. It’s kind of going well with no goals against. That’s a big thing we’re focusing on is the defense, too. If we can solidify [that] record, then that’s kind of nice, but not really our intention. We’re just trying to play our best game.”

Hofer has scored a goal in each of the first three games of the series and hopes to keep that streak going in Game 4.

“Playing to my strengths. The biggest thing for me is the physicality and being tenacious on pucks,” he said. “You’re not going in looking for the goals, just going in playing hard for your team. If they fall in, they do. We’re just going to keep rolling with it.”

The Blazers tonight, already without Fraser Minten this series, may not have Daylan Kuefler available. He left Game 3 on Tuesday night and did not return. He’ll be a game-time decision.

“Right now, I’m day-to-day and ultimately it’s not my decision, so we’ll see how I feel,” noted Kuefler.

The Blazers’ 3-0 lead is one of three series in the West where the series leaders are unbeaten. The Seattle Thunderbirds finished off Kelowna in four games Wednesday night with a 3-0 win, the Blazers can end the Giants’ season tonight, while Portland, ahead 3-0 over Everett, can sweep the Silvertips on Friday.