First-place T-Birds earn comeback win over visiting Blazers

Photo: Seattle Thunderbirds

The Kamloops Blazers surrendered four consecutive goals Tuesday in Kent, Wash, snapping their nine-game win streak with a 6-3 loss to the high-flying Seattle Thunderbirds.

Ashton Ferster and Olen Zellweger (2) were the goal scorers for the Blazers. Nolan Allan, Brad Lambert, Jared Davidson and Dylan Guenther (2) and Reid Schaefer scored for the Thunderbirds.

Seattle opened the scoring 34 seconds in but the Blazers led 2-1 after the first period. Then the T-Birds stepped on the gas, scoring four straight to make it 5-2. The teams exchanged goals late in the third to make it a 6-3 final.

Dylan Ernst made 29 saves on 34 Seattle shots in a losing effort. Thomas Milic stopped 34 of 37 Kamloops shots to earn the win in net.

The Blazers scored twice on four power-play opportunities. The Thunderbirds scored once on two chances.

Announced attendance at Accesso ShoWare Center was 4,335.

The win moves the Western Conference-leading Thunderbirds to 53-9-1-2. The second-place Blazers fall to 47-12-4-2 with the loss — the club's first defeat since a Feb. 25 loss in Medicine Hat.

Tuesday’s result firmed up the Western Conference playoff picture. The Blazers now know they will take on the seventh-place Vancouver Giants (26-31-5-3) in the opening round, while the top-seeded T-Birds will face the Kelowna Rockets (26-36-4-0).

The Blazers and the Thunderbirds will do it again on Wednesday at Sandman Centre, which will be Pride Night for the Blazers. Puck drop is 7 p.m.