Bruins edge Blazers in opening night thriller

September 21, 2007

The Bruins opened the 2007-08 season on a winning note, defeating the Kamloops Blazers 2-1 in the River City Friday night.

Bruins Captain Nick Holden scored the only goal of the first period on the power play. A nifty three way passing play started by Oscar Moller and Mark Santorelli found Holden all alone twenty feet out in front of the Blazer goal. Holden wasted no time one timing the puck passed a startled Justin LeClerc.

In the second, once again it was the Bruins with the only goal. Brayden Metz, after holding the puck behind the Blazer net for five seconds found Colby Kulhanek in front who shoveled home his first goal of the season.

In the first half of the final frame the Bruins were forced to kill three consecutive penalites. Stong goaltending by Matt Esposito and poised play by the Bruins defenders kept the Bruins perfect on the penalty kill through the first ten minutes of the third. With just under two minutes left in the third and the Bruins once again on the penalty kill, Kamloops pulled goaltender LeClerc going with six skaters. With just a tenth of a second left in the game, the Blazers Travis Dunstall ruined Matt Esposito's bid for the goose egg.

Shots on goal in the game were 22-19 in favor of Kamloops.

The Blazers went 1/8 on the power play, Chilliwack ended the night with one goal in just two opportunities with the man advantage.

The Bruins are back on the ice Saturday night when they host the Portland Winter Hawks. Tickets are available at www.ticketmaster.ca or stop by the Prospera Centre Box Office Saturday from 9:00am right up until game time.

Box Score