Welcome to the daily WHL playoff recap focusing on the Western Conference. Here is a look back at the day that was:
Kamloops Blazers (3) vs Vancouver Giants (1)
The Kamloops Blazers took Game 1 of their second round matchup with the Vancouver Giants 3-1 on Friday night. It was a tight checking goaltending battled as both Jesper Vikman and Dylan Garand made 30 or more saves. The game also marked the first time this playoffs Kamloops has failed to score in the third period.
Kamloops jumped out to a 1-0 lead late in the first thanks to a Caedan Bankier power play goal. This was Kamloops’s seventh power play goal of the playoffs in just five game. They would add two more in the second thanks to goals from Reese Belton and Ethan Rowland to make it 3-0. Adam Hall would make it interesting with a goal midway through the third but that is as close as Vancouver came in a 3-1 Blazers win.
Blazers Luke Toporowski and Giants Mazden Leslie both left the game at the end of the third. Neither returned which is something to monitor going into Game 2. These two rivals will play Game 2 Saturday Night in Kamloops.