The message was clear for the Blazers in their second meeting with goaltender Roddy Ross and the Thunderbirds — get in the blue paint.
After stymieing the Blazers with 50 saves on 51 shots in the first head-to-head match up, the Blazers knew they had to make life difficult for Ross this time around.
“We didn’t have a lot of traffic the first time,” head coach Shaun Clouston admitted. “It’s easier with a good goaltender like him to make saves without the traffic. I thought we had a lot more traffic tonight.”
Chaos in front of Ross’ net manifested itself into a five-goal second period for the Blazers that propelled the home team to an 8-1 win.
Traffic, special teams, and a lethal top line whipped up the recipe for success on Wednesday night. After scoring on two of five power-play opportunities against Seattle, a rather anemic-looking power play in the preseason is now ranked tenth in the league and fifth at home.
Much of that power play success can be attributed to the top line of Orrin Centazzo, Zane Franklin, and Connor Zary, who combined for five points on the night and 18 points in their last three home games.
Centazzo’s two goals on the night now give him a league-leading ten points in six games. The left winger did his best to defer his success to his linemates after the game, but the Blazers captain wasn’t having any of it. In Franklin’s opinion, “He’s just being humble. Orrin’s been awesome this year. He was great last year, but I think he’s taken an even bigger step on the ice and even in the dressing room. . .”
The second-period outburst may not have come to fruition if it were not for Dylan Garand’s composure in the net. After rookie Conner Roulette’s deflection found daylight through the screened goaltender, Garand responded with the WHL highlight of the night late in the first period.
For Clouston, he sees Garand’s success as a reflection of the goaltender’s preparation and attention to detail. “I think he works extremely hard, he’s focused, he’s committed to his craft, works hard in practice, and come game time he’s dialed in.”
Seattle, meanwhile, is dealing with several “indefinite” injuries to players including defenceman Cade McNelly, among others. The Thunderbirds will return to Seattle where they will host Spokane on Friday before playing the Royals in Victoria on Saturday.
Game notes
With Wednesday night’s victory, the Blazers are now back to .500 with three wins and three losses.
The Blazers’ six games played are the most in the WHL thus far, while their 24 goals are five more than second-place Winnipeg’s.
Martin Lang’s three points matched his career-best, while Kyrell Sopotyk scored two goals for the third time in his WHL career.
3 stars in the building
3: Josh Pillar
2: Kyrell Sopotyk
1: Martin Lang
DUBNetwork’s 3 stars
3: Dylan Garand — It took a screen and a deflection to get one by him tonight, he keeps getting better.
2: Martin Lang — Fast, composed and doesn’t back down — earned all three of his points.
1: Kyrell Sopotyk — Tenacious from the moment the puck dropped.
What’s on tap
The Blazers now have two days off before finishing off their four-game home stand against the Everett Silvertips this Saturday in the first match up between the two teams this season.
