LANGLEY, B.C. — Alex Cotton scored the game-winning goal with less than four minutes to play in regulation as the Vancouver Giants topped the Kamloops Blazers 3-2 Tuesday to avoid going down 3-0 in their WHL playoff series.
The Giants, who entered the playoffs as the eighth seed in the Western Conference and upset the No. 1-seeded Everett Silvertips in six games to reach the second round, now only trail 2-1 in their best-of-seven series with Kamloops.
Justin Lies and Ty Thorpe also scored for Vancouver while Fraser Minten and Drew Englot found the back of the net for the Blazers in a see-saw affair that saw Kamloops respond each time the Giants scored until they were unable on Cotton's marker at the 16:36 mark of the third period.
Jesper Vikman stopped 34-of-36 shots to pick up the win.
Game 4 will go Thursday back at the Langley Events Centre.
There was one other WHL playoff game in action Tuesday. The Moose Jaw Warriors edged past the Winnipeg Ice 3-2 to also avoid falling into a 3-0 hole.
Game 4 of that series will play Wednesday at Mosaic Place in Moose Jaw, Sask.
