Blazer magic runs out
Another miracle comeback was not in the cards for the Kamloops Blazers.
The Portland Winterhawks blanked Kamloops 2-0 in Game 7 of a WHL Western Conference semifinal series on Wednesday, April 18, in the Rose City.
Kamloops was down 3-0 in the series, but rattled off three straight wins en route to tonight's series-deciding tilt.
Portland will meet the Tri-City Americans in the Western Conference final, which gets underway on Friday, April 20, in Kennewick, Wash., at the Toyota Center.
Tri-City knocked off the Spokane Chiefs 3-2 in Game 7 of the other West semifinal on Wednesday in Kennewick.
Goaltender Cam Lanigan played well in the Blazers' net, but Kamloops could not find its scoring touch.
The Blazers went 0-for-4 on the power play.
Marcel Noebels scored the game-winning goal just 1:08 into the first period.
Brendan Leipsic scored at 9:49 of the third period to give Portland a two-goal cushion.
Lanigan was pulled late in the game and the Blazers mounted a late charge, but could not beat Winterhawk goalie Mac Carruth, who posted the shutout.
There will be a full-season autopsy — and a look ahead to the 2012-2013 campaign — in Tuesday's (April 24) edition of KTW.
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