Blazers can't complete comeback, fall 5-3 to visiting Ice

Photo: Allen Douglas/Kamloops Blazers

The Kamloops Blazers dug themselves a hole at Sandman Centre on Friday and couldn’t get out, falling 5-3 to the Winnipeg Ice.

Kaden Hammell, Daylan Kuefler and Fraser Minten were the goal scorers for the Blazers. Matthew Savoie, Connor McClennon, Zach Benson, Owen Pederson and Carson Lambos scored for the Ice.

The Blazers gave up two goals early in the first and were down 4-1 after 20 minutes. After a scoreless second, Kuefler and Minten scored early in the third to make it a game, but Lambos restored the two-goal Winnipeg lead at 12:38 of the final frame to make it a 5-3 final.

The Ice are the top-ranked team in the CHL and sit atop the WHL standings.

The game was Minten’s first with the Blazers since returning from Toronto Maple Leafs training camp. He scored a power-play marker to make it 4-3 at 6:35 of the third period and added two assists. He was named the second star in the building.

Dylan Ernst was chased from the Blazers net in the first period after allowing four goals on seven shots. Backup Michael Schnattinger was solid in relief, stopping 21 of 22 and keeping the home team in the game.

Daniel Hauser made 42 saves on 45 Kamloops shots to earn the win in net for the Ice, his eighth of the season — tied for the league lead.

The Blazers scored twice on seven power-play opportunities. The Ice could not convert on a pair of chances with a man advantage.

Announced attendance at Sandman Centre was 4,841.

With the loss, the Blazers fall to 5-2-0-1 on the season. The win moves the Ice to 10-1.

The Blazers will have to put that one behind them in a hurry, with two more games to play this weekend. The Prince George Cougars (4-5) will visit Sandman Centre on Saturday, then the Blazers will head to Langley to take on the Vancouver Giants (1-5-1-2) on Sunday.

Puck drop on Saturday night is 7 p.m.