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Blazers jump out to 4-0 first-period lead but can't hang on, losing 5-4 to Americans

Blazers blow lead on road

The Kamloops Blazers blew a 4-0 lead on Friday in Kennewick, Wash., surrendering five straight goals en route to a 5-4 loss to the Tri-City Americans.

Logan Stankoven scored twice for the Blazers, with singles from Quinn Schmiemann and newcomer Kobe Verbicky, who was acquired last weekend in a trade with the Edmonton Oil Kings.

Samuel Huo and Jake Sloan each scored twice for the Americans, with Parker Bell adding a lone goal.

Dylan Garand made 25 saves on 30 Tri-City shots in the loss. Tomas Suchanek stopped 32 of 36 Kamloops shots in net for the Americans.

The win moves the Blazers to 21-10-1-0 on the season, still tops in the WHL’s B.C. Division but up only five points on the second-place Kelowna Rockets (17-10-1-3).

The Blazers are slated to take on the Chiefs (10-18-2-1) in Spokane on Saturday, then head south to Portland to face the Winterhawks (18-11-3-1) on Sunday. Their next home game is scheduled for Jan. 22, when the Prince George Cougars (14-17-1-1) will visit Sandman Centre.



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