The Winnipeg ICE hosted their Teddy Bear Toss game on Saturday night inside of the Wayne Fleming Arena.
Their opponent was the always tough Kamloops Blazers and through 40, it looked like the road team would spoil the party. However, the ICE caught fire in the third to steal two points in a 5-4 overtime win against the Blazers.
Dylan Garand drew the start for Kamloops in net and he made 10 saves in the first period while Liam Hughes made eight for Winnipeg as it was 0-0 after 20.
The Blazers would steal the show in the second and they took a commanding lead in the process.
It all started with a Josh Pillar shorthanded goal 8:53 into the second frame.
With 1:08 left in the period, Zane Franklin would score his 17th of the season to make it 2-0 and Kamloops weren’t done there.
With just six seconds left, Franklin would score his second of the game and 18th of the season as Kamloops led by a field goal after two periods.
Winnipeg came out like a completely different team in the third and it was their turn to dominate a period.
Just 2:02 in, Benjamin Zloty would put Winnipeg back into the game with a power play goal.
Just 3:58 later, Carson Lambos would trim the deficit to one with his fifth of the season.
Jakin Smallwood tied the game with his eighth of the season with 10:17 left in the third.
After three straight Winnipeg goals, Kamloops got back on the board. Orrin Centazzo scored on the power play with just 6:03 left to give Kamloops a 4-3 lead.
With just 1:36 left, Winnipeg pulled clutch as Connor McClennon beat Dylan Garand to tie the game up and overtime was forced.
In overtime, Michal Teply sealed the game just 1:12 in as Winnipeg skated off with another win on home ice.
ICINGS:
- It was Winnipeg’s seventh straight win on home ice.
- Both goalies made 32 saves on the night with Hughes getting his second
(Photo Credit – Zachary Peters) Hughes made 32 saves. win in as many days.
- Carson Lambos also finished +3 and he had one goal.
