For the Reporter

The Kamloops Blazers defeated the Seattle Thunderbirds 4-3 in a back-and-forth, Western Hockey League game Wednesday night at the Interior Savings Centre in Kamloops.

The Blazers led 2-1 after one period and the T-Birds led 3-2 after two periods.

The T-Birds next two games are against the Prince George Cougars on Friday and Saturday in Prince George.

Kamloops (19-25-3-3) went in front 1-0 on a power-play goal from Cole Ully at 7:57 of the first period. Ully scored from the bottom of the left circle off a rebound. Devin Sideroff and Matt Needham had the assists.

Seattle (23-19-3-3) came right back and tied the game 1-1 51 seconds later. Evan Wardley took a shot from the slot that Kamloops goalie Connor Ingram stopped. Roberts Lipsbergs got a stick on the rebound before the puck slid into the left circle right to Nick Holowko. Holowko beat Ingram for his third goal of the season.

Ully got the Blazers the lead back at 12:10 of the first with a power-play goal. Ully beat Seattle goalie Taran Kozun from the left circle for his second goal of the game. Sideroff and Needham had the assists.

Kamloops outshot Seattle 12-10 in the first period.

The T-Birds tied the game 2-2 3:30 into second period. Shea Theodore passed the puck to Sahvan Khaira who took a shot on goal. Lipsbergs got the rebound at the bottom of the left circle. Lipsbergs skated around the Kamloops net from left to right and stuffed the puck in at the right post.

Cory Millette put the T-Birds in front 3-2 with a power-play goal at 14:46. Ethan Bear carried the puck down the right wing into the Blazers’ zone. Bear’s centering pass hit the skate of Mathew Barzal and went into the high slot. Lipsbergs got the puck and took a slap shot that Ingram stopped. Millette was to the left of the goalie and swept the puck into the net for the go-ahead goal.

The Blazers led 22-19 in shots after two periods.

Dawson Davidson tied the game 3-3 for Kamloops at 3:42 of the third period on the power play. Davidson took a wrist shot from the right point with traffic in front of Kozun. Ully and Sideroff had the assists.

Brady Gaudet scored from the left circle at 14:38 of the third to put the Blazers in front 4-3. Matt Revel and Logan McVeigh had the assists.

The T-Birds went on the power play with 1:43 left in the game. They pulled Kozun for an extra attacker and had several good chances but were not able to beat Ingram.

Kamloops outshot Seattle 12-9 in the third period and 34-28 in the game.

Kozun stopped 30 of 34 shots and his record is now 21-14-3-3.

Ingram made 25 saves on 28 shots and his record is 12-12-1-3.

SCORING SUMMARY

First period – 1, Kamloops, Ully 23 (Sideroff, Needham), 7:57 (pp). 2, Seattle, Holowko 3 (Lipsbergs, Wardley), 8:48. 3, Kamloops 24 (Sideroff, Needham), 12:10 (pp). Penalties – Hauf, Sea (major-fighting, game misconduct), :09. Rehill, Kam (major-fighting, game misconduct), :09. Wardley, Sea (roughing), 6:15. Bench, Sea (too many men-served by Lipsbergs), 10:32. Gaudet, Kam (holding), 15:34. Needham, Kam (roughing), 17:50.

Second period – 4, Seattle, Lipsbergs 2 (Khaira, Theodore), 3:30. 5, Seattle, Millette 12 (Lipsbergs, Barzal), 14:46 (pp). Penalties – Gaudet, Kam (holding), 12:19. Kolesar, Sea (boarding), 12:26. Maier, Kam (holding), 14:41.

Third period – 6, Kamloops, Davidson 3 (Ully, Sideroff), 3:42 (pp). 7, Kamloops, Gaudet 2 (Revel, McVeigh), 14:38. Penalties – Wardley, Sea (interference), 3:27. Smith, Sea (kneeing), 7:24. Maier, Kam (major-fighting), 15:18. Volcan, Sea (major-fighting), 15:18. Wardley, Sea (interference), 16:21. Gaudet, Kam (holding), 18:17.

Shots on goal – Seattle 10-9-9 28, Kamloops 12-10-12 34. Goalies – Seattle, Kozun 34 shots-30 saves (21-14-3-3); Kamloops, Ingram 28-25 (12-12-1-3). Power plays – Seattle 1-5; Kamloops 3-5. A – 3,820. Referees – Jeff Ingram. Linesmen – Michael McGowan, Devon Sephton.