Blazers pull one from the fire
The Kamloops Blazers were snakebitten for 58 minutes and 16 seconds — then they rattled off two goals in 31 seconds to sink the Swift Current Broncos 2-1 at Interior Savings Centre on Tuesday, Dec. 4.
Colin Smith, two days after finding out he is not invited to the national junior team's selection camp, scored at 18:16 of the third period to tie the game 1-1.
Sam Grist accepted a clever Tim Bozon feed and beat Bronco netminder Eetu Laurikainen — screened by Smith — upstairs for the game-winning goal at 18:47.
The Blazers outchanced the visitors 19-6 and outshot the Broncos 32-16, but could not beat the impressive Finnish goaltender until the game's dying seconds.
Coda Gordon's second-period power-play goal looked like it was going to be the difference, but Kamloops never stopped pushing.
Smith's game-tying marker was briefly under review, but league officials quickly determined the puck did cross the goal line.
JC Lipon, who will try out for the under-20 Canadian team set to compete at the world juniors in Russia, chimed in with two assists.
The Broncos will feel like they deserved at least a point — and they really did.
Swift Current played Kamloops tough all night.
Just ask Blazer D-man Tyler Bell, who was dropped by a Josh Derko uppercut in a first-period scrap.
Next up for Kamloops are the Prince George Cougars at ISC on Friday.
Puck-drop is slated for 7 p.m.
The Broncos will likely brave poor highway conditions tonight on the way to Kelowna, where they will meet the Rockets on Wednesday, Dec. 5.
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