Emmitt Finnie celebrates his goal against the Portland Winterhawks on April 14, 2023. (Photo via Allen Douglas)
Matthew Seminoff scored the game winner in a 10-goal game Friday night as the Kamloops Blazers took Game 1 of their second round series over the Portland Winterhawks 6-4.
Fraser Minten scored his first of the playoffs while Jakub Demek scored a pair as the Blazers also got goals from Emmitt Finnie and Logan Stankoven.
James Stefan led the way for Portland with a hat-trick, while Markus Nguyen also found the back of the net for the visitors.
Finnie opened the scoring in the first period – his sixth point of the playoffs – to extend his point streak to 15 games. Stefan tied the game 1:20 later as the two teams went into the dressing room tied at 1-1.
We’ll raise you one 14-game point streak to one 15-game point streak.
Emmitt Finnie stays hot for the @blazerhockey!#WHLPlayoffs | #FeedingtheFuture pic.twitter.com/78sobeJ93S
— The WHL (@TheWHL) April 15, 2023
Demek and Minten brought the home crowd to life with goals in the middle frame though Stefan’s second – a redirect of a point shot from Marek Alscher – meant the Blazers lead 4-2 after the second period.
First game of the 2023 #WHLPlayoffs for Fraser Minten: ✅
First goal of the 2023 #WHLPlayoffs for Fraser Minten: ✅@blazerhockey | @MapleLeafs | #FeedingtheFuture pic.twitter.com/pazleTvQiS
— The WHL (@TheWHL) April 15, 2023
Make that 2 on the night for @slovakdemo77 🔥🔥#WHLPlayoffs #FeedingTheFuture pic.twitter.com/pvL7lVaxwd
— Kamloops Blazers (@blazerhockey) April 15, 2023
Seminoff’s game-winning goal game 63 seconds into the final period, with Stankoven scoring an insurance marker just before the five minute mark, to put the Blazers in a comfortable 6-4 lead.
These @DallasStars prospects…
They’re no joke!@blazerhockey | #WHLPlayoffs | #FeedingtheFuture pic.twitter.com/CqAvpUqDCO
— The WHL (@TheWHL) April 15, 2023
Nguyen and Stefan scored power play markers late in the period, with Stefan’s third of the night coming with two seconds left in the game.
Dylan Ernst remained unbeaten though five playoff games, turning aside 28 of 32 shots he faced. The Weyburn, Sask. native also recorded his first career playoff assist on Stankoven’s goal.
🎥SAVE OF THE NIGHT🎥
Gotta play the bounce. @RealCdnSS | @blazerhockey | #NHLDraft#WHLPlayoffs | #SaveoftheNight pic.twitter.com/386CeeUKvD
— The WHL (@TheWHL) April 15, 2023
Jan Špunar stopped 32 of 38 shots he faced in a losing effort at Sandman Centre.
Olen Zellweger, a nominee for WHL defenceman of the year, finished with two assists on the night, while Stankoven, a nominee for WHL player of the year, had an assist to go with his goal Friday night.
The two teams will meet against Saturday night in Game 2 of the series, before heading Stateside for Games 3 and 4 on Wednesday and Thursday next week.
Game 5, if needed, will be at Sandman Centre on Saturday, April 22.
