The Blazers and Thunderbirds start the Western Conference Final on Saturday in Seattle (Image Credit: Seattle Thunderbirds)

By Chad Klassen

WESTERN CONFERENCE FINAL

Blazers out for revenge against Seattle, know limiting ‘deep team’ is key

Apr 25, 2023 | 3:32 PM

KAMLOOPS — The memories of a Game 7 loss at home are still etched firmly in many of the Blazers’ minds.

The chance to advance to the franchise’s first WHL Final in more than 20 years dashed by a surprise Seattle squad.

“Lots of guys are calling it the ‘Revenge Tour,'” noted forward Ryan Hofer, who has a point in every playoff game except Game 3 in Portland. “They want to keep a last kick at [Seattle]. Still a pretty sour taste in their mouth from last year, so they know what we’re going into and it’ll be a tough series, but it’ll be fun.”

It’s about a good a series on paper as you could want. Dozens of signed NHL players, world junior stars, and teams that were even during the regular season at 2-2.

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Since the trade deadline, when both teams stacked up for a playoff run, the Blazers have actually won two of the three meetings, including a confidence-boosting 3-2 win in Seattle on March 7.

“Yeah it was huge,” said captain Logan Stankoven on the win. “Being able to win a big game like that in a loud building like Seattle. They’ve got some loud fans and really good support there. It’s a fun building to play in, at least for me. I enjoy playing there. If you can get a win like that in a building, it definitely gives you confidence and we know that hopefully we can do that again in Games 1 and 2.”

Something will have to give. The Blazers have scored 48 goals in eight games — 24 in each series to average six per game. The Thunderbirds have notched 39 goals between their series sweeps.

Seattle’s Thomas Milic leads the WHL with a 1.13 goals-against average, while Dylan Ernst is second with 1.80 GAA.

Olen Zellweger and Logan Stankoven are tied for the WHL playoff scoring lead with 21 points, but the Blazers know full-well about the challenge of limiting the likes of Brad Lambert and Dylan Guenther, who was acquired at the deadline while still playing for the Arizona Coyotes. He returned to give Seattle a boost. Guenther has 29 points in 20 games, while Lambert has 38 points in 26 games with the T-Birds.

“Trying to stop their high-flying offense they’ve got. They’ve got a couple guys that have played at higher levels throughout the year and came back and have been scoring lots of goals in Lambert and Guenther there. Lots of points between those two guys, so trying to limit their chances offensively,” said forward Fraser Minten, who scored the opening goal in Game 7 against Seattle last year.

Stankoven added, “Really deep team. Four lines that can score that you’ve got to watch out for. It’s not like they’ve just stacked a couple lines. All four lines with really good players.”

It’s the first time since 2009 that two conference finalists facing off are undefeated. The Blazers swept Vancouver and Portland. Seattle wiped out Kelowna and Prince George in four games.

“It’s going to be competitive. Two undefeated teams, that’s pretty exciting. Someone’s going to have to lost,” said defenseman Olen Zellweger, who was just named WHL Player of the Week following his seven-point performance in Game 4 against Portland last week. “That’s what makes it fun. You’re competing against the best players on the other side.”

Despite being 8-0 so far, the Blazers are underdogs. Some say Seattle will be hungrier without a berth in the Memorial Cup, but the Blazers are embracing that role.

“Makes me hungrier and want to play the game a bit harder and leave it all out there,” noted Stankoven. “It might be my last year with the Blazers, so I want to make sure I can leave a positive impact on the organization and the fans.”

Game 1 is Saturday at the ShoWare Center followed by Game 2 on Sunday.