Blazers win 4-3 over the Giants in overtime

Feb 13, 2016 | 10:54 PM

KAMLOOPS — The Blazers clawed their way to a 4-3 win in overtime at home on Saturday night. The victory is the team’s third consecutive win, and their second in as many nights over a fading Vancouver Giants team.

The Giants struck first late in the first period. David Brumm finished off a 2-on-1 play on a nice feed from Owen Hardy at 14:13. Vancouver struck again, 1:27 later on the power play, as Alec Baer took a pass from Radovan Bondra in the slot and beat Ingram blocker side to make it 2-0.

The Blazers wasted no time in responding, however, as Deven Sideroff scored on a power play only 2:35 later. With three Blazer forwards hovering around the net, Kubic kicked a rebound right on the stick of Sideroff who had a yawning cage to shoot at.

Collin Shirley potted his 31st goal of the season at 15:25 of the second to equal the score. Ingram made a huge stop at one end of the ice to preserve the tie, immediately followed by a Blazer rush up ice where Matt Needham fed a cross-ice pass to Shirley who shoveled home a backhand shot.

The Blazers took the lead temporarily at 3:17 of the third period, when Jake Kryski converted a power play goal on a rebound in the Giants crease. That lasted until 8:47, when Ty Ronning put home a one-timer in the slot off a pass from Chase Lang out of the corner.

The game remained 3-3 until Gage Quinney put home the winner at 2:34 into overtime off a pass from Kryski, who drew two Giants defenders toward him before swinging a pass behind Kubic in Vancouver’s crease. That left Quinney standing all alone just above the goal line with the puck on his stick.

Kryski talked post-game about the set up for the game-winning goal.

“It was three-on-three in the offensive zone and they were playing pretty good man-on-man. Quinney made a nice drop pass to me and kind of broke up their man-on-man play. I took it to the net and just slid it over to him back-door and he had an empty net to shoot at, so it’s good he put it in” Kryski said.

Connor Ingram made 35 saves for the victory, and was named the game’s first star for the second straight game. Quinney and Kryski each had a goal and an assist, while Ryan Rehill and Garrett Pilon each had two assists for the Blazers.

The Blazers went 2-3 on the power play, while the Giants were 2-7 on the man advantage. It wasn’t always pretty, but the Blazers managed to come away with two points and pick up an important four points this weekend to stay in the thick of the Western Conference playoff race.

Kryski talked about how crucial is it that his team picked up these wins against the Giants.

“It’s obviously very important, because those guys are fighting for a playoff spot and so are we. To get those four points this weekend is a big deal for us and it’s really good looking forward”, Kryski said.

The Blazers don’t play again until February 17th, when they host the Red Deer Rebels at the Sandman Centre.