Last week saw the Kamloops Blazers record fall, losing streak continue and their playoff spot disappear.
They had held onto the last wildcard spot in the Western Hockey League’s Western Confrence for a while but lost it last week to the Prince George Cougars – who have since lost it to the Seattle Thunderbirds. Kamloops has lost six in-a-row and are watching their playoff hopes seemingly slipping away before their eyes.
The Cougars, who were coming off back-to-back wins against division rival, the Kelowna Rockets, were not going to roll over easily so the Blazers had to bring their “A” game if they wanted to prevent slipping even further behind a playoff berth.
Saturday night, with Dylan Ferguson minding the pipes, the Blazers took the early lead off the stick of 16-year-old Kyrell Sopotyk when he scored his seventh of the year.
Kamloops scored twice more on the night while the Cougars Josh Maser netted their lone tally for a final score of 3-1. Martin Lang finished with a goal and an assist helping his cause in the NHL draft.
The native of the Czech Republic found himself ranked 172nd out of North American skaters Monday morning when the NHL Central Scouting mid-term rankings were released. Lang has 28 points in 44 games this season.
Fast forward a little over 16 hours later and the puck was dropping on the second game of the set in the northern capital of British Columbia.
The second game, and points associated with winning it, meant a lot to both these clubs.
With two points, Kamloops would be able to move back ahead of Prince George and inversely, the Cougars would be able to extend their existing lead on the Blazers – which had dropped to one point after Saturday’s result.
The scoring didn’t get started until Prince George’s Josh Maser scored his team leading 18th of the season giving the Cougars a 1-0 lead.
Kamloops quickly retaliated, scoring 26 seconds later while the Cougars goal was still being announced over the public address system. Montana Onyebuchi tallied his fourth of the season when he beat Cougars netminder Taylor Gauthier.
The two teams went on to trade goals and it seemed like the game was settling in until Prince George’s Josh Maser hit Kamloops Quinn Schmiemann up high causing Zane Franklin to come to the aid of his teammate. Schmiemann was injured on the play, and did not return.
Prince George's Josh Maser was handed a 3 game suspension under supplemental discipline for this hot on Kamloops' Quinn Schmiemann pic.twitter.com/rh5bkert0p
— Brandon Rivers (@BriversWHL) January 23, 2019
Franklin was assessed the only penalty for retaliating against Maser, but on Tuesday a little bit of justice came for the Blazers in the form of supplemental discipline when the WHL announced a three game suspension.
Three game suspension to PG's Josh Maser under supplemental discipline for hit on Blazer D Quinn Schmiemann. #Kamloops
— Jon Keen (@JonKeenNLSports) January 22, 2019
Schmiemann broke onto the WHL scene with Kamloops this year, now finding himself ranked 71st on the NHL Central Scouting mid-term rankings. The first year, draft eligible defenceman has 19 points in 38 games this season.
Overtime went back and forth until Franklin and Orrin Centazzo realized the Cougars current shift was a little too long and took advantage of it. Franklin came down the right hand side of the ice, beat a d-man and beat Gauthier short side to secure the two points, and all four points on the weekend.
Moving forward, it’s important for the Blazers to use this momentum to their advantage.
The Seattle Thunderbirds currently occupy the final playoff spot in the west and they are in the midst of a six-game winning streak.
Kamloops’ favourable remaining schedule means they have destiny in their own hands. They not only have 17 of their last 24 games at home, but also 17 of their last 24 against BC division opponents including five against the Kelowna Rockets, and four with Prince George.
Upcoming games include a three-in-three starting on Friday against the Spokane Chiefs and moving onto the Victoria Royals Saturday before travelling to Kent, Washington to take on one of the hottest teams in the league, the Seattle Thunderbirds on Sunday.
To make matters worse, it’s unlikely the Blazers defence will be in tact with Schmiemann out with what looks to be a head injury, and Zazula nursing a should injury.
To keep the playoffs within sight the Blazers need to make hay while the sun shines, and well, the sun is shining.
