Image credit: Kyle Smutzki and Keith Dwiggins via Facebook/Kamloops Blazers
Blazers 3 Winterhawks 2 OT

Blazers snap four-game losing skid with overtime win over Winterhawks

Oct 18, 2024 | 7:40 AM

KAMLOOPS — The Kamloops Blazers snapped a four-game losing streak with a 3-2 overtime win over the Winterhawks in Portland Thursday (Oct. 17).

Defenceman Harrison Brunicke opened the scoring for the Blazers 1:47 into the first period by putting home a loose puck into an open net.

The Blazers held on to a 1-0 lead until early in the third period where the Winterhawks scored on the final second of a 5-on-3 power play before scoring another power a minute later.

Halfway through the third, the Blazers responded with a power play goal of their own. Nathan Behm scored his team-leading eighth goal of the season on a sharp angle shot. The game would remain 2-2 heading into overtime.

Overtime wouldn’t last long as Tommy Lafreniere finished a two-on-one chance off the rush from Jordan Keller to score the winner for the Blazers. Goaltender Dylan Ernst was steady for Kamloops with 44 saves.

The Blazers improve to 3-6-1 on the 2024-25 Western Hockey League (WHL) season, good for seven points in 10 games. They’re 10th in the WHL Western Conference and fourth in the B.C. Division.

The Blazers return home Saturday (Oct. 19) to take on the Wenatchee Wild. Puck drop is at 6:00 p.m. from Sandman Centre.

Scoring Summary

First Period

1-0, Blazers, Harrison Brunicke (2) from Conner Radke, 1:47

Second Period

No scoring.

Third Period

1-1, Winterhawks, Kyle Chyzowski (7) from Tyson Jugnauth and Carter Sotheran (power play), 0:46

2-1, Winterhawks, Tyson Yaremko (6) from Kayd Ruedig and Ryder Thompson (power play), 1:48

2-2, Blazers, Nathan Behm (8) from John Szabo and Matteo Koci (power play), 11:51

Overtime

3-2, Blazers, Tommy Lafreniere (4) from Jordan Keller, 1:47

Goaltending

Dylan Ernst (W), Blazers, 44 saves on 46 shots in 62 minutes played.

Ondrej Stebetak (OTL), Winterhawks, 32 saves on 35 shots in 62 minutes played.