Logan Stankoven scoring against the Kelowna Rockets on March 17, 2023. (Photo via Allen Douglas)
Logan Stankoven scored the game winner in his return from injury as the Kamloops Blazers beat the Kelowna Rockets 5-2 Friday night.
Stankoven also hit the post twice in his first game since the Blazers’ March 7 win over the Seattle Thunderbirds as Kamloops extended its win streak to eight games and 19 in their last 20.
It was like he was never gone
@DallasStars | @LoganStankoven pic.twitter.com/wSuXQJ5mrT
— Kamloops Blazers (@blazerhockey) March 18, 2023
Shea Van Olm put the home team on the board at 3:18 in the first period, though the Rockets equalized 1:16 later though Grady Lenton.
Goals from Emmitt Finnie – who’s on a career high five game point streak – and Stankoven had the Blazers up 3-1 after 20 minutes of action.
straight games with a Point for Finnie
— Kamloops Blazers (@blazerhockey) March 18, 2023
The Blazers fired a season high 29 shots on goal in the second period but cashed in just once when Matthew Seminoff found Dylan Sydor in the final minute for the only goal of the period.
This feed from Semi
and Sydor stays calm, cool and collected
— Kamloops Blazers (@blazerhockey) March 18, 2023
Dylan Wightman and Connor Levis traded goals in the third, with Levis scoring into the empty net for his eighth goal in eight games this month.
“Time for a line change.”
– Fraser Minten, probably. @blazerhockey | @MapleLeafs pic.twitter.com/FCyHF1H8Q5
— The WHL (@TheWHL) March 18, 2023
Caedan Bankier had a pair of assists Friday night to extend his point streak to 15 games, the longest active point streak in the WHL. The Minnesota Wild prospect has 29 points – 10 goals and 19 assists – dating back to Feb. 11.
Dylan Ernst turned aside 24 of the 26 shots he faced for his 38th win of the season, while Talyn Boyko stopped 55 of 59 shots in a losing effort.
The Blazers will head down Highway 97 to face the Rockets at Prospera Place Saturday night.
They will also play a home-and-home against the Seattle Thunderbirds on Tuesday and Wednesday next week before closing out the regular season with a home-and-home against Prince George next weekend.
