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Blazers Lose 3-2 in Shootout

December 1, 2012 - Western Hockey League (WHL) - Kamloops Blazers News Release


The Kamloops Blazers (21-6-1-2) failed to score in the shootout, while the Moose Jaw Warriors (11-12-2-3) scored on their first two attempts to earn a 3-2 victory over the Blazers. Justin Paulic was solid in goal for the Warriors with 29 saves, while the Blazers got goals from Tyler Bell and Colin Smith in the loss.

The Blazers started out well and had a few great chances. Aspen Sterzer set up Mitch Friesen who put one off the post. The Warriors gained some life as the period carried on, but the Blazers took it back in the final minute of the first period. Some great work by the forward line of Joe Kornelsen, Aspen Sterzer and Matt Needham led to the Blazers first goal. Tyler Bell found a rebound and clapped home his first goal of the season as the teddy bears rained over the ice. The Blazers finished the first period with a 10-6 advantage on the shot clock.

The Warriors tied it up early in the second period. Morgan Rielly had all the time in the world at the top of the point and the 5th overall pick of the Toronto Maple Leafs wired a shot through everybody for his sixth goal of the season. The Blazers seemed to be fine for the rest of the period earning a power play opportunity in the final minute and a half. The worst case scenario happened as the Blazers were careless with the puck giving up a two on one break in the dying seconds. Tanner Eberle set up Travis Brown who scored his fifth of the season to make it 2-1 Warriors with only 12.5 seconds to go in the second period.

The Blazers power play was their achilles tendon all night taking away momentum as they struggled to generate offense. Colin Smith got the Blazer back into it though scoring another clutch goal. Smith took the puck into the offensive zone and used the defenseman as a screen putting his shot high and over the glove of Paulic to tie the game up at 2-2. A bright spot for the Blazers was their penalty kill which went 6-for-6 on the night. The Blazers finished the third period killing off a penalty to send it to overtime.

In overtime, the Blazers killed off the rest of the penalty. After the penalty kill, there was little offense created both ways and the game went to the shootout. Brendan Ranford and Colin Smith were both stopped by Justin Paulic, while Justin Kirsch and Brayden Point both scored to lift the Warriors to a 3-2 shootout win.

Both teams were 0-for-6 on the power play. Cole Cheveldave took the shootout loss making 25 saves.

The Blazers will close out the weekend with a game in Seattle tomorrow night at 5:00pm.


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