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WHL Kamloops Blazers

Blazers Lose 3-1 in Prince George

March 21, 2015 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Kamloops Blazers News Release


The Prince George Cougars scored first and got two goals in the third period on their way to a 3-1 victory over the Kamloops Blazers on Friday night.

The first period was scoreless as both goaltenders were terrific.

The Blazers came out much better than on Wednesday night. Shots were 13-10 for the Cougars.

The Cougars opened the scoring in the second period on a bit of a blunder in front of the Blazers net.

Miscommunication led to David Soltes getting to a loose puck and scoring his 13th goal of the season to give the Cougars a 1-0 lead.

The Blazers best chance came off the stick of Matt Revel. He stripped a Cougars defender and went in alone, but was stonewalled by goaltender Ty Edmonds.

Credit to both teams on the night as the intensity and desperation level was high. The Cougars held a 28-23 edge in shots and a 1-0 lead through two periods.

The next goal was important, and the Cougars got it only 35 seconds into the third period.

Tyler Mrkonjic drove wide and centered a pass to Kody McDonald who beat everyone to the net. McDonald tallied his ninth goal of the season to make it 2-0 for the Cougars.

The Blazers pushed to come back, but Ty Edmonds was outstanding making every save necessary for the Cougars.

Cole Ully got one back off an offensive zone faceoff. Matt Needham won it back to Ully as he ripped home his 34th goal of the season to make it 2-1 with 11:38 to play.

Connor Ingram was up to the task for the Blazers as he made a series of terrific saves. After stoning Colby McAuley on a breakaway, Ingram dove to make a sprawling glove save on McDonald with two minutes to go.

The Cougars would get a late one as the Blazers were pressing. Colby McAuley got away on a partial breakaway and fired a shot that went through the back of the net top shelf to make it 3-1 for the Cougars.

The line of Mrkonkjic, McDonald and McAuley was terrific playing most of their minutes against Matt Needham and Cole Ully.

Ty Edmonds was the game's first star with 36 saves for the Cougars. Connor Ingram was terrific in making 38 saves and was the game's third star.

The loss means the Cougars have clinched third place in the B.C. Division and a playoff spot.

The Blazers did not get any help on the out of town scoreboard as the Tri-City Americans won 4-2 over Portland.

The Blazers now trail the Americans by two points with one game to go. The hockey club faces a must-win on Saturday night against Prince George.

The Blazers playoff hopes rely on winning Saturday night against Prince George and hoping that the Americans lose their final two games in regulation time.

If this happens, and the Blazers and Americans finish tied in points, the two teams would play a 1-game play-in game for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. The game would be played in Tri-City based on the Americans winning more games this season than the Blazers.

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Western Hockey League Stories from March 21, 2015


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