Emmitt Finnie celebrates his goal against the Seattle Thunderbirds on Feb. 7, 2024. (Photo via Allen Douglas)
Emmitt Finnie had a goal and an assist Wednesday night to extend his point streak to nine games as the Kamloops Blazers beat the Seattle Thunderbirds 4-1 at Sandman Centre.
It was the Blazers first win over Seattle since Game 5 of the 2023 WHL Western Conference final, and their sixth in their last eight games this season.
“I thought it was a great game,” Finnie, the first star on the night said post-game. “I thought we played four lines pretty much the whole night and we got a lot of buy in from all of our guys. It was good.”
Ashton Ferster scored the only goal of the first period to put the Blazers up 1-0 after 20 minutes in the first of four regular season meetings between the two teams.
Matteo Koci on the power play and Kazden Mathies traded second period goals to give the Blazers the 2-1 lead after 40 minutes.
Just like they drew it up! 📝 pic.twitter.com/GTk5rOhsdb
— Kamloops Blazers (@blazerhockey) February 8, 2024
Third period goals from Harrison Brunicke and a short handed marker from Finnie ensured the Blazers picked up both points on the night to improve to 15-29-3-2 on the season, good for 35 points in 49 games.
Our king 👑 https://t.co/3twrhWCI8I
— Kamloops Blazers (@blazerhockey) February 8, 2024
“Not something you expect when you’re on the 5-on-3, but I read that he was going back up top and I got a bit of a lucky bounce there in the net, so it was good,” Finnie said, of his goal.
Koci had an assist to go with his goal, while Blake Swetlikoff picked up a pair of assists on the night.
The Blazers remain at the bottom of the WHL standings, but are now tied with the 16-29-2-1 Edmonton Oil Kings, who also have 35 points in 49 games.
Seattle drops to 18-27-2-o on the season, to sit second last in the Western Conference with 38 points in 47 games. The T-Birds, who won the 2023 WHL title, sit four points out of a playoff spot.
Dylan Ernst made 19 saves on 20 shots to earn his third consecutive win in net, and 11th of the season. The Weyburn, Sask. native has a 0.956 save percentage and a 1.33 goals against average in that three game stretch.
Seattle’s Scott Ratzlaff turned aside 29 of 33 shots in a losing effort.
Next up for the Blazers is a home and home against the Kelowna Rockets, in Kamloops on Friday night and Kelowna on Saturday.
The Blazers have won three of four meetings against the Rockets this season.
Friday night’s game is Country night at Sandman Centre, in partnership with Radio NL’s sister station, New Country 103.1.
