Tri-City Overcomes First Period Deficit, Defeats Kamloops 3-1

Kamloops, BC- The Kamloops Blazers threw the kitchen sink and then some at Eric Comrie tonight.

But Comrie kicked everything back at the Blazers except one, as the Tri-City Americans (23-15-1-2, 49 pts) came back from a first period deficit to defeat the Kamloops Blazers (28-11-2-2, 60 pts) 3-1 in the Interior Savings Centre.

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Comrie played outstanding, stopping 34 of 35 shots and withstanding seven power plays, killing off six of them.

Tri-City snaps a four game losing streak in Kamloops and halts the Blazers three game overall win streak.

Kamloops dominated the first period, outshooting Tri-City 14-6 in the first period. The Blazers got off to a quick start as Tim Bozon scored on a power play less than three minutes into the game. Tri-City did not have many chances while Kamloops got a lot of chances, including three power play opportunities. But Comrie held strong and only allowed the one goal heading into the second period.

Tri-City gained some momentum in the second period. The Americans killed off three penalties in a row, and finally got on the scoreboard midway through the period as Michal Plutnar fired a slap shot from the point through traffic into the top left corner of the net on the power play to tie the game at one. Comrie was stellar in the second, making an awesome glove save and stopping a breakaway to keep the game tied heading into the third period.

The Americans carried the second period momentum into the third. A shot by a Tri-City defender would bounce off the back wall to Beau McCue in front of the net, slapping home a shot to give Tri-City their first lead of the game 30 seconds into the third.  Kamloops threw 10 shots at Comrie in the period and stopped them all. Justin Feser would seal the win by scoring an empty net goal at the end of the period to cap off the victory.

Feser’s goal moves him into fifth place alone on the Americans all-time goals list and brings him within one goal of tying Brent Ascroft for fourth on the all-time goals list.

Kamloops goaltender Cole Cheveldave made 24 stops in the loss.

Tri-City has a day off before they wrap up their British Columbia trip with a game against the Kelowna Rockets (30-10-1-1, 62 pts) in Prospera Place. Game time is at 7:00 p.m. Tri-City won both games at home 3-2 in mid-November, but lost the lone game in Kelowna 3-2 in late November. Kelowna has a seven game overall win streak going and with the win tonight, took over first place in the B.C. Division. NewsTalk 870 will broadcast the game starting at 6:45 p.m. with the pregame show. Root Sports will broadcast the game beginning at 7:00 p.m.

Jack in the Box Three Stars:
1. Eric Comrie, Tri-City
2. Joel Edmundson, Kamloops
3. Zachary Yuen, Tri-City