Logan Stankoven in action against the Seattle Thunderbirds in Game 1 of the WHL Western Conference Championship. (Photo via Brian Liesse)
Jeremy Hanzel scored the overtime winner as the Seattle Thunderbirds took Game 2 of the WHL Western Conference Championship with a come from behind 4-3 win.
The Thunderbirds improve to 10-0 in the 2023 WHL playoffs, while the Blazers drop to 8-2 as the series shifts back to Kamloops for Games 3 and 4.
“I thought we played really well,” Blazers Associate Coach Don Hay said, on After The Buzzer. “We followed our game play to a T. We did a lot of good things but Seattle is a good team, they keep pushing and working hard.”
“We just didn’t bury our chances and you know, so often in overtime a shot that probably shouldn’t go in, finds a way in. It’s disappointing but you know its a long way from over yet here. We got better overnight and that’s a good sign and we want to get better for Tuesday.”
Seattle gets the OT winner…. fresh off several great Blazer opportunities to win it… two 2-on-1’s shorthanded, can’t convert. Stankoven in front. Tough loss. Deserved this one.
Seattle leads 2-0.
Series back to Kamloops Tuesday night for game three.— Jon Keen (@JonKeenNLSports) May 1, 2023
Caedan Bankier and Olen Zellweger scored on either side of the first intermission to give the Blazers the 2-0 lead at the accesso ShoWare Center. Bankier’s goal came with 40 seconds to play in the first while Zellweger’s power play marker came 59 seconds into the second.
Through 20 minutes, the @blazerhockey hold a 1-0 lead after a late one from Caedan Bankier!@mnwild | #WHLPlayoffs | #FeedingTheFuture pic.twitter.com/CCg5syh8RM
— The WHL (@TheWHL) April 30, 2023
Another day, another goal by Zell!@blazerhockey | @AnaheimDucks#WHLPlayoffs | #FeedingTheFuture pic.twitter.com/VXpFDSIuPd
— The WHL (@TheWHL) May 1, 2023
While Seattle cut the lead in half through Lucas Ciona at 7:53, Matthew Seminoff’s power play goal put the Blazers back up by two at 12:53 of the second period.
A pair of PPGs on the night for the @blazerhockey, this one from Matthew Seminoff!@DallasStars | #WHLPlayoffs | #FeedingTheFuture pic.twitter.com/K0qUZZl6l3
— The WHL (@TheWHL) May 1, 2023
It was all Seattle on the scoresheet after that as Colton Dach – late in the second – and Brad Lambert – early in the third – tied the game at 3-3, before Hanzel’s OT winner 6:21 into the extra frame.
Prior to the game winner, the Blazers game close while shorthanded, though they were denied by Thomas Milic in the Seattle net. Milic made 39 saved on 42 Blazers shots to take the win. He was the slightly busier goaltender with Dylan Ernst turning aside 35 of 39 shots in a losing effort.
📽️ SAVE OF THE NIGHT 📽
Excellence from Ernie.@RealCdnSS | @blazerhockey#WHLPlayoffs | #SaveoftheNight pic.twitter.com/kx0yaIqjXq
— The WHL (@TheWHL) May 1, 2023
Blazers captain Logan Stankoven finished with three assists on the night, giving him a playoff leading 25 points (10 goals and 15 assists) in 10 games.
Game 3 of the series is set for Tuesday, May 2 at Sandman Centre with Game 4 on Thursday, May 4. Blazers’ fans are being encouraged to wear white if they’re coming to either game.
