Fraser Minten in action against the Lethbridge Hurricanes on Nov. 22, 2023. (Photo via Allen Douglas)
Fraser Minten scored a pair but the Kamloops Blazers gave up two goals in less than 30 seconds on two occasions en route to a 7-3 loss to the Lethbridge Hurricanes Wednesday night.
The Blazers captain scored his first goals of the season at Sandman Centre and added an assist in a three point night. He’s got 10 points in seven games since he was reassigned by the Toronto Maple Leafs in late October.
Logan Bairos got the Blazers off to a perfect start with a shot from the point that beat Hurricanes’ goaltender Brady Smith.
BAIROS WITH A SEEING EYE SHOT! 👀 pic.twitter.com/BljErpyxAe
— Kamloops Blazers (@blazerhockey) November 23, 2023
The Hurricanes pulled even late in the first period through Brayden Edwards, tying the score at 1-1 after 20 minutes.
Edwards, Leo Braillard, and Kooper Gizowski piled on the goals for the visitors who chased Blazers goaltender Dylan Ernst after he allowed a pair of goals in a 24 second span.
Minten pulled one back for the Blazers at 13:13 of the second, but the Hurricanes’ Logan Wormald and Tyson Zimmer beat backup Jesse Sanche twice in a 29 second span to extend Lethbridge’s lead.
MINTY FRESH! ✨ pic.twitter.com/ZD4KOJJnWX
— Kamloops Blazers (@blazerhockey) November 23, 2023
Minten added his second of the night late in the period, but the Hurricanes were cruised to the win, with Miguel Marques scoring the only goal of the third period.
FRASER MINTEN HAS HIS SECOND! 🚨 pic.twitter.com/Uul49Lsuce
— Kamloops Blazers (@blazerhockey) November 23, 2023
Ernst made 16 saves on 20 shots in 31:51 of action, while Sanche stopped 12 of 15 in 28:09 of relief work. Smith stopped 36 of 39 Kamloops shots to pick up the win for the Hurricanes.
Minten led all skaters with a game-high eight shots on goal. He also won 14 of 25 face-offs, more than another other player on the ice.
The Blazers, who are now losers of three straight, have fallen to 5-13-2-2, while the Hurricanes are up to 13-9-2-0.
They’ll aim to end the losing streak with a pair of games at home this weekend, Friday night against the Vancouver Giants, followed by the Everett Silvertips on Saturday.
