Blazers box

From The Daily News of Saturday, March 8, 2008 . . .

THE SCORE
Prince George 6, Kamloops 3

WHAT HAPPENED
The Blazers took a 3-2 lead with two quick goals early in the third period
but gave it away by taking penalties that resulted in two Prince George
power-play goals.

THE STANDINGS
The Blazers (26-37-2-2) are eighth in the Western Conference and will make
the playoffs. The Cougars (19-45-1-3) will finish ninth and won’t make the
playoffs.

THE STREAK
The Blazers last won Feb. 8 when they beat the visiting Kelowna Rockets 2-1
in a shootout. Kamloops now has lost 10 straight games (0-9-1-0), the
third-longest winless streak in franchise history.

THE SAVE
Kamloops G Justin Leclerc, his club down 2-1, stoned Prince George’s Dana
Tyrell on a shorthanded breakaway at 4:20 of the third period. RW Kenton
Dulle promptly scored two goals 11 seconds apart to give the home boys the
lead. But they couldn’t hold it.

THE SCHEDULE
The Blazers have five games remaining, including three at home — Spokane
Chiefs, Wednesday; Vancouver Giants, March 15; and, Prince George, March 16.
The Blazers are in Prince George tonight and face the Bruins in Chilliwack
on Friday.

THE PLAYOFFS
The Tri-City Americans, Vancouver Giants and Spokane Chiefs have all
announced they will open the playoffs with home games on March 21 and 22.
The Blazers will meet one of those teams in the first round. Games 3 and 4
will be played at Interior Savings Centre on March 25 and 26.

THE QUOTE
“No matter what team we play in the playoffs, it’s going to be a great
challenge. None of us is worried about playing Vancouver; none of us is
worried about playing Tri-City or Spokane. It’s a matter of our game being
on top and just being so excited and having the opportunity of knocking off
one of those teams." — Kamloops winger Brady Calla.

THE NECK GUARDS
Players in the OHL will begin wearing neck guards Monday, the result of
Florida Panthers F Richard Zednik having his throat slashed by an errant
skateblade last month. The WHL’s GMs discussed the topic at a Monday meeting
in Calgary and put it over to the league’s annual meeting in June.

THE DAILY NEWS THREE STARS

1. D Kalvin Sagert, Prince George. A goal, two assists and a lot of minutes.

2. LW Dana Tyrell, Prince George. A goal, three assists and a lot of
leadership.

3. RW Kenton Dulle, Kamloops. The best of the Blazers.

UP NEXT
The Blazers and Cougars play in Prince George tonight. The Blazers are at
home to Spokane on Wednesday. Game time is 7 o’clock.