For the final time in the regular season, the Kamloops Blazers and the Tri-City Americans met, with this matchup taking place in Kamloops. Tri-City entered the night in desperation mode with crucial points on the line, but they simply did not show up and were routed 6–1.

First Period

Just a minute into the game, Isa Guram stepped into the high slot and rang a shot off the crossbar as it nearly became the fourth straight game where Tri-City conceded within the opening five minutes.

Tri-City then had a chance to score first, something that has been hard to come by lately for Tri-City, when Guram went to the box for interference. However, the Blazers penalty kill, which was already a perfect 5-for-5 against Tri-City entering the game, killed it off and improved to 6-for-6 despite the Americans generating a few solid looks.

From that point on, Kamloops took full control and never looked back.

After a strong forecheck from Cooper Moore, the Blazers struck first at 7:32. Moore dug the puck free behind the Tri-City net and centered it to J.P. Hurlbert, the Blazers points leader, who chipped his 39th goal of the season over the glove of Xavier Wendt.

Less than two minutes later, Tommy Lafreniere sniped one from the right circle to make it 2–0, finding just enough space over Wendt’s shoulder for his 38th goal of the year as Kamloops top two scorers struck early.

Kamloops kept pressing. A point shot from Ryan Michael changed direction off a tip from Jorden Keller and slipped under Wendt’s arm, putting Tri-City in a 3–0 hole late in the first.

Things quickly spiraled from there. With just 26 seconds left in the period, Vit Zahjesky cut into the slot and used defenseman Dylan LeBret as a screen before firing a high-blocker shot past Wendt for his sixth goal of the season, making it 4–0.

It was an abysmal first period for Tri-City in yet another must-win situation. They trailed 4–0 after twenty minutes and were being outshot 12–6.

Second Period

Ryan Grout came on in relief of Xavier Wendt to start the second period after Wendt stopped eight of twelve shots.

Tri-City began to settle into a rhythm early in the period, but rookie David Byrne made a costly mistake.

Behind the Americans net with plenty of time, Byrne attempted to pass the puck in front of his own crease. Instead, it went directly off of his own goaltender, Ryan Grout, and right to Ty Bonkowski, who quickly buried it past a surprised Grout. Byrne immediately showed his frustration, and it was just one of those big learning moments for a rookie.

Kamloops continued to pour it on. Ty Copeland redirected a puck off his skate at the left post and into the net to make it 6–0 with just a few minutes remaining in the period.

After forty minutes, the Blazers skated to the locker room holding a commanding 6–0 lead.

Third Period

Tri-City finally broke through early in the third. Cruz Pavao blasted a one-timer from the left circle four minutes into the period, snapping the shutout shortly after the Americans second power play had expired.

That would be the only goal for Tri-City, as Kamloops comfortably closed out the 6–1 victory.

Postgame / What’s Next

Despite the loss, Tri-City remains five points out of the final playoff spot after the Spokane Chiefs defeated the Portland Winterhawks in regulation.

However, with only five games remaining, the margin for error is essentially gone for the Americans.

Tri-City finished the night 0-for-2 on the power play and was outshot 35–22. The Blazers penalty kill went a perfect 7-for-7 against Tri-City across the season series.

The lone Americans goal came from Cruz Pavao, his 19th of the season and first since February 24 at home against the Victoria Royals.

Tri-City will wrap up its four-game road swing Friday night in Portland in a rematch with the Portland Winterhawks at 7:05 PM.