Blazers Win Thriller over Oil Kings
Published on October 18, 2012 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Kamloops Blazers News Release
The Blazers showed a ton of heart in Edmonton, scoring a late shorthanded goal to tie and eventually win 5-4 in shootout over the defending WHL Champion Oil Kings. JC Lipon and Colin Smith combined to tie it up with 1:24 to go shorthanded and Brendan Ranford and Smith scored shootout goals to solidify the win.
JC Lipon continued his tremendous hot streak scoring his 10th goal of the year as he was set up by Tim Bozon in front of the net to give the Blazers a 1-0 6:03 into the first period. The Oil Kings tied it up with a power play marker as T.J. Foster ripped a shot past Cole Cheveldave to make it 1-1 with less than five minutes to play. The Blazers responded on a power play of their own as Brendan Ranford beat goaltender Laurent Brossoit upstairs with six seconds left in the period. The Blazers took the 2-1 lead into the second period.
The game remained 2-1 until the 10:54 mark as Dylan Wruck showed tremendous patience and took the puck to the net and scored to make it 2-2. The Oil Kings held a decisive shot advantage at 13-6 in the period. The Oil Kings also held a decisive power play advantage with the Blazers killing four penalties in the period.
It was the Blazers who took the lead back in the third period as Cole Ully gave Matt Needham and Rob Trzonkowski a 2-on-1. Needham fed Trzonkowski who put it underneath the crossbar to give the Blazers a 3-2 lead with 10:52 to go in the game. The Oil Kings came back as they continued to be awarded power plays. They would score goals with 6:54 and 1:59 to play both on the power play to take a 4-3 lead. Again, the Blazers were penalized late as Tyler Bell went to the box. The Blazers showed a ton of character as Colin Smith took the puck into the offensive zone and drew three Oil Kings to him before feeding a wide open JC Lipon to tie it 4-4 shorthanded with 1:24 to go. The Blazers killed the final 1:24 to send the game into overtime.
The Oil Kings outshot the Blazers 4-0 in overtime, but a shootout was needed in this one. Brendan Ranford and Colin Smith scored shootout goals and Cole Cheveldave stopped all three Oil Kings shooters to preserve the thrilling 5-4 win.
The power plays were very lopsided as the Oil Kings went 3-for-9 and the Blazers were 1-for-3 in the game.
The Blazers improved their CHL best record to 10-0-0-1 on the season with their eighth consecutive victory.
Lipon (27) and Smith (23) have combined for 50 points in the first 11 games this season and sit one and two in WHL scoring.
The Blazers will continue their Central Division road trip with a game in Lethbridge on Friday night. They conclude the trip in Cranbrook to face the Kootenay Ice on Saturday night.
Western Hockey League Stories from October 18, 2012
- Goalie Prospect Amundrud Signs with Everett - Everett Silvertips
- WHL this Week: Looking Ahead - WHL
- Hitmen Assistant Coach Brent Kisio Promoted to Associate Coach - Calgary Hitmen
- Wheat Kings Add Second Assistant Coach - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Tigers Reassign MacAuley to SJHL - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Pats Acquire Two Players in Deal with Red Deer - Regina Pats
- Rebels Trade Mayor and Hak to Regina - Red Deer Rebels
- Broncos Make Deal with Blades - Swift Current Broncos
- Oil Kings Lose 5-4 in a Shootout to Kamloops - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Blazers Win Thriller over Oil Kings - Kamloops Blazers
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