Olen Zellweger had a goal and two assists, Logan Stankoven had three assists as the Kamloops Blazers beat the Vancouver Giants 6-1 in Game 2 of their first round playoff series Saturday night.

Stankoven (three goals and five assists) leads all skaters with eight points in the 2023 playoffs, with Zellweger leading all defencemen with six points (one goal and five assists) in two games.

Ryan Hofer and Zellweger – both part of the top-seeded Everett Silvertips team upset by eighth-seeded Vancouver in round one of the 2022 playoffs – scored 19 seconds apart in the first period to give the Blazers a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes.

Ryan Hofer plays till the whistle, so Ryan Hofer gets rewarded. @blazerhockey | @Capitals | #WHLPlayoffs | #FeedingtheFuture pic.twitter.com/UN1CUZa07m

— The WHL (@TheWHL) April 2, 2023

Back 2 back 🔥

2-0 Blazers 🔥🔥#WHLPlayoffs #FeedingTheFuture pic.twitter.com/Qx3CaxLDaU

— Kamloops Blazers (@blazerhockey) April 2, 2023

Caedan Bankier then added to the lead with the only goal of the second period.

Daylan Kuefler and Dylan Sydor made it a 5-0 Blazers lead before the Giants’ Samuel Honzek finally solved Dylan Ernst, ending his shutout streak at 112:55.

Emmitt Finnie restored the Blazers’ five goal lead 11 seconds later to extend his career best point streak to 12 games, giving the Blazers the 2-0 series lead.

Make that 6-1!

Finnie nets his first of the game to make it 6-1 🔥#WHLPlayoffs #FeedingTheFuture pic.twitter.com/PdhEFlZd6R

— Kamloops Blazers (@blazerhockey) April 2, 2023

Ernst turned aside 25 of the 26 shots he faced while Brett Mirwald – who came on in relief in Game 1 – was credited with the loss, stopping 49 of 55 Blazers’ shots.

🎥SAVE OF THE NIGHT🎥

How does it feel to owe? To owe the toe.@RealCdnSS | @blazerhockey | #NHLDraft #WHLPlayoffs | #SaveoftheNight pic.twitter.com/SVD0Zr03RH

— The WHL (@TheWHL) April 2, 2023

The series shifts to Langley for Game 3 Tuesday and Game 4 on Thursday. If needed, Game 5 will be at Sandman Centre on Saturday, April 8.

HIGHLIGHTS