Herald staff
KAMLOOPS, British Columbia — Wednesday’s midweek battle between the Kamloops Blazers and Everett Silvertips was billed a matchup of elite goaltenders.
Both netminders — Kamloops’ Connor Ingram and Everett’s Carter Hart — lived up to the billing.
In fact, that the teams needed overtime before the Blazers prevailed 2-1 before 3,515 fans at Sandman Centre.
Kamloops Latvian import Rudolfs Balcers scored both goals including the game-winner just 11 seconds into the extra session as the Blazers created a 2-on-1 situation and Balcers didn’t miss. He leads Kamloops with 13 goals and 23 points.
Despite the defeat, the U.S. Division-leading Tips (15-2-4-0, 34 points) have now earned a standings point in 10 straight games. Kamloops (12-10-1-0, 25 points) bounced back from a 7-0 defeat at the hand of Western Conference-leading Prince George on Saturday.
Everett maintains a six-point lead in the standings over second-place Tri-City in the U.S. Division standings.
The game was one of missed opportunities for Everett, which out-shot Kamloops 27-12 through the first two periods and 34-23 for the game. That was due to the presence of Ingram, who leads the WHL in save percentage and is second in goals-against average. Ingram recorded 33 saves to out-duel his counterpart in Everett’s Hart, who had 21 saves. Hart leads the league in goals-against average and is second in save percentage to Ingram.
Everett rookie Orrin Centazzo struck for his first career WHL goal to give the Tips a 1-0 lead at 12:12 in the second. Centazzo scored from the right post off a rebound of teammate Jake Christensen’s point shot.
Balcers scored the equalizer with a wrister over Hart’s shoulder at 15:31 in the second and added the game-winner in the extra session.
The Blazers outshot Everett 11-7 in the third period and overtime.
The Tips received some welcome news prior to the game when captain Noah Juulsen was cleared to play. Juulsen took a big hit from Calgary’s Taylor Sanheim in Tuesday’s 6-1 win over the Hitmen and was a game-time decision.
Everett came up empty on a first-period power play. It was the only man advantage of the night for the Tips. Kamloops was 0-for-3 on the power play.
The Tips return to action Saturday when they play host to the Lethbridge Hurricanes at 7:05 p.m.
Everett doesn’t play another road game until Dec. 9 when it travels to Langley for a game against the Vancouver Giants.
Blazers 2, Silvertips 1 (OT)
Everett0100—1
Kamloops0101—2
1st Period—No Scoring. Penalties—Served by Walton Kam (too many men), 15:55.
2nd Period—1, Everett, Centazzo 1 (Christiansen), 12:12. 2, Kamloops, Balcers 12 (Pilon, Sideroff), 15:31. Penalties—Juulsen Evt (hooking), 5:07; Gerth Evt (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 15:31; Dosanjh Kam (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 15:31; Fonteyne Evt (cross checking), 19:38.
3rd Period—No Scoring. Penalties—Sutter Evt (charging), 9:42.
OT Period—3, Kamloops, Balcers 13 (Sideroff), 0:11. Penalties—None.
Shots on Goal—Everett 10-17-7-0-34. Kamloops 3-9-10-1-23.
Power Play Opportunities—Everett 0/1; Kamloops 0/3.
Goalies—Everett, Hart 11-2-3-0 (23 shots-21 saves). Kamloops, Ingram 10-7-1-0 (34 shots-33 saves).
A—3,515
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