Logan Stankoven celebrates his goal against the Portland Winterhawks on April 19, 2023. (Photo via Keith Dwiggins)
Logan Stankoven had a goal and assist to lead the Kamloops Blazers past the Portland Winterhawks 3-2 in Game 3 of their second round playoff series.
The Blazers lead the best-of-seven series three games to nothing and are on the cusp of returning to the WHL Western Conference final for the second successive season.
Jakub Demek opened the scoring for the Blazers in the Rose City, with Stankoven and Fraser Minten also finding the back of the net Wednesday night.
The Slovakian forward scored into an open net just before the 10 minute mark of the first period, though Portland tied things up less than two minutes later through Jack O’Brien on the powerplay.
Logan Stankoven and Jakub Demek work their magic to get the @blazerhockey started in Game 3!#WHLPlayoffs | #FeedingTheFuture pic.twitter.com/z3X7OPmPWc
— The WHL (@TheWHL) April 20, 2023
Stankoven, the reigning WHL Player of the Week, scored the only goal of the second period – on the powerplay – to put the visitors back into the lead. It was the ninth consecutive Blazers goal he was involved in going back to the third period of Game 1 at Sandman Centre last Friday.
The Blazers captain leads all WHL active skaters in playoff points this season with 18 (eight goals and 10 assists) in seven games.
Logan Stankoven scores goals. Like, lots of goals.@blazerhockey | @DallasStars#WHLPlayoffs | #FeedingTheFuture pic.twitter.com/y43a7eAnZT
— The WHL (@TheWHL) April 20, 2023
Stankoven then drew the penalty that led to Minten’s game winning power play goal early in the third period.
Minty Fresh!@blazerhockey | @MapleLeafs#WHLPlayoffs | #FeedingTheFuture pic.twitter.com/c9zp8qMZ45
— The WHL (@TheWHL) April 20, 2023
Luca Cagnoni’s first goal of the playoffs with about six minutes left to play gave the Winterhawks a fighting chance, though they were unable to overcome the two goal deficit despite a late rush.
Olen Zellweger finished with a pair of assists Wednesday night to lead all WHL defencemen in playoff points with 14 – four goals and 10 assists – in seven games.
Dylan Ernst turned aside 23 of 25 shots he faced for his seventh win of the playoffs. Portland’s Jan Špunar allowed three goals on 36 shots for his third consecutive loss in this series.
23 saves for @Dylan_Ernst31 in the win. He’s 7-0 in the playoffs with three shutouts. #Kamloops pic.twitter.com/rZruZ9kQn8
— Jon Keen (@JonKeenNLSports) April 20, 2023
The Blazers will look to close out the series in Game 4 Thursday night at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum. If needed Game 5 will be at Sandman Centre on Saturday, April 22.
The Seattle Thunderbirds – who beat the Blazers in seven games in last year’s Western Conference Final – await the winners of this series.
Like Kamloops, Seattle has yet to lose a game in these playoffs, having swept the Kelowna Rockets in the first round and the Prince George Cougars in the second round.
