Logan Stankoven scoring one of his three goals in Game 1 against Spokane last Friday at the Sandman Centre. Stankoven is tied for the WHL lead in scoring with 10 points (Image Credit: Allen Douglas / Kamloops Blazers)

By Chad Klassen

WHL PLAYOFFS

Stankoven, Toporowski lead WHL in scoring, helping Blazers take 3-0 series lead

Apr 27, 2022 | 2:43 PM

KAMLOOPS — It’s been a broken record all series long — a goal call for either Logan Stankoven or Luke Toporowski — a broken record Blazers fans don’t want fixed anytime soon.

Toporowski leads the WHL Playoffs in goals with five through the first three games to help give the Blazers a 3-0 series lead against his former team.

“I think we just picked up right where we left off before I got hurt,” noted Toporowski of the chemistry he has with Stankoven. “We had that chemistry beforehand and we’re doing a great job.”

Stankoven, meantime, is tied for the playoff lead in points with 10 in three games and is second in goals with four. It includes his hat trick and two assists in Game 1.

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While they played most of the season with Caeden Bankier, they’re now with Drew Englot, who Stankoven says has added another element to their line.

“The three of us combining, we all play a similar game. Obviously, Englot’s more of a guy that gets in there. He’s a bigger body that can play down low, creates that space for me and Topper and we just try to go out there and do our thing,” he said.

However, it hasn’t been just the Stanky-Topper show in the series. Head coach Shaun Clouston feels the team’s received balanced scoring so far. Outside of Stankoven and Toporowski, there have been seven different goal-scorers, partly thanks to the 9-0 blowout in the opener.

“Obviously, Toporowski and Stankoven have been great, but we’ve had lots of different guys chip in,” said Clouston. “We’ve had some depth with our scoring as well.” He added, “You look at the lineup. If you want to call it first, second, third — 2a, 2b — [Daylan] Kuefler scored and Bankier, [Matthew] Seminoff and [Fraser] Minten and [Connor] Levis.”

But let’s not kid ourselves. Stankoven and Toporowski stir the drink for the Blazers and have since the deadline day trade that united the dynamic duo in January.

They were seemingly unstoppable then and they are now at the right time in the playoffs.

“We’re working hard. We’re doing everything we can. When we step on the ice, we just want to be productive and we want to help our team win,” said Toporowski. “We’re doing everything we can in practice, morning skates, and that leads into the games. We’re working hard. If we can be unstoppable, then that would be awesome.”

The Blazers can wrap up the series on Friday when they’re in Spokane for Game 4.