It’s not technically a must-win game, but it likely feels that way for both teams.
The host Kamloops Blazers will take on the OHL champion Peterborough Petes in the third game of the Memorial Cup this afternoon.
The #MemorialCup hosts return to action to face the @OHLHockey champions this afternoon!
📺 TSN1/3/4 | RDS2 | NHL Network pic.twitter.com/BicVew9gzc— Canadian Hockey League (@CHLHockey) May 28, 2023
Both teams opened the tournament with losses over the last 48 hours, the Blazers a 8-3 defeat at the hands of the Quebec Remparts and the Petes a 6-3 loss to the Seattle Thunderbirds.
Whichever team wins today will be able to breathe a sigh of relief, while the loser will face an actual must-win game on Tuesday or Wednesday if they want to advance past the round-robin stage of the tournament.
On the contrary, when Seattle and Quebec meet on Monday, not only will the winner be guaranteed to advance past the round-robin stage, they will also be just one win away from a trip to the final.
It was a disappointing start to the tournament for the host Blazers, who fell 8-3 to the Remparts on Friday night.
2023 #MemorialCup in pictures: May 26
— Canadian Hockey League (@CHLHockey) May 27, 2023
📸 https://t.co/4RXz9j7WaQ pic.twitter.com/VwUwqN6FoR
In front of a raucous sold-out crowd, Kamloops was unable to stop QMJHL MVP and Columbus Blue Jackets draft pick James Malatesta. He scored a hat trick in the opener and Kassim Gaudet added a pair for Quebec.
A day later, there was another hat trick, this time courtesy of Thunderbirds overager Kyle Crnkovic. While Crnkovic is undrafted, a trio of NHL-selected players in Nolan Allan, Jordan Gustafson and Lucas Ciona also scored for Seattle.
Puck drop between the Blazers and Petes is at 3 pm and you can catch all the action on TSN.
