Fraser Minten scored his first goal of the season but the Kamloops Blazers were unable to complete the comeback, falling 3-2 in a shootout to the Vancouver Giants Saturday night.

Minten’s goal – at 19:14 of the third period – forced overtime at the Langley Events Centre.

The Toronto Maple Leafs prospect began a rush up the ice with the Blazers net empty. He got past two defenders, and was able to deflect the puck into the net off the foot of Madzen Leslie to force overtime.

MINTY FRESH! ✨ pic.twitter.com/STDyHttgNx

— Kamloops Blazers (@blazerhockey) November 5, 2023

The Vancouver native won 29 of the 41 faceoffs he took and led all skaters with ten shots. He also added an assist and was named second star honours, but the Blazers were unable to pick up their first road win of the season.

The 4-10-2 Blazers did pick up three of four possible points over the weekend. They’ve won three of their last five games, with both losses coming in Langley.

“We’re learning what it takes to be competitive. We’re finding ways to manage pucks. We’re getting good goaltending,” Blazers Associate Coach Don Hay said on After the Buzzer.

“We’re learning the process that it takes to be in this league. We got hit in the nose with some injuries, so its tough to keep that high level going, but I thought the kids did a very good job.”

Isa Guram, 16, made his Blazers debut Saturday, as Kamloops remains without three defencemen – Ryan Nolan, Ryan Michael, and Vojtech Vochvest. Nolan and Michael have missed the last few games while Vochvest sat out Saturday’s game with an injury.

The Blazers also lost defenceman Harrison Brunicke through injury midway through the game, with his status unknown. They finished with five defencemen, and only one veteran in Logan Bairos.

“They kept the game simple,” Hay said of the remaining defenceman. “Vancouver missed a couple as well, so it was a battle of two teams missing some defence.”

“[Vancouver was] able to get the goal in the shootout, the magic for us wasn’t there.”

Connor Dale opened the scoring for the Giants with the only goal of the first period, even though Kamloops outshot Vancouver 15-6.

The Blazers did find the breakthrough in the second as Shea Van Olm scored the only goal of the period to tie the game at 1-1.

VAN OLM WITH THE SNIPE! 🎯 pic.twitter.com/sMtRVzMIDq

— Kamloops Blazers (@blazerhockey) November 5, 2023

Jaden Lipinski appeared to have scored the game winner at 7:01 of the third period, but Minten had other ideas.

Neither team was able to cash in during overtime, with the Blazers unable to capitalize on the man advantage after the Giants were penalized for too many men on the ice with two seconds left to play.

Ty Halaburda scored the only goal of the shootout to give the Giants the extra point. Max Sullivan, the shootout hero from the night before, couldn’t tuck home his goal to extend the shootout.

Dylan Ernst turned aside 34 of 36 shots he faced in a losing effort. Brett Mirwald was stellar in the Giants net, making 41 saves on 43 shots.

Next up for the Blazers is a home game against the Portland Winterhawks on Wednesday, Nov. 8.