KAMLOOPS, British Columbia -- The Tri-City Americans lost ground in the race for the Scotty Munro trophy Wednesday after dropping a 5-1 game to the Kamloops Blazers at Interior Savings Centre.
The Blazers (38-12-1-3) lead the Western Hockey League with 80 points, two ahead of the Edmonton Oil Kings (36-12-2-4, 78 points) and four in front of Tri-City, though the Americans (37-13-1-1) have two games in hand on both teams.
Kamloops won this season's four-game series 3-1.
It's the first time the Blazers have won a regular-season series against the Americans since the 2004-05 season.
The Blazers led 2-1 early in the third before exploding for three goals in the last 13 minutes of the game.
Brendan Ranford scored two third-period goals for the Blazers, while Colin Smith added a goal and an assist.
Tri-City, ranked fourth in this week's CHL poll, got its lone goal from Adam Hughesman -- his team-leading 32nd of the season -- at 6:27 of the second period to cut the Blazers' lead to 2-1.
Chase Schaber and Cole Ully also scored for Kamloops, while Cole Cheveldave finished with 33 saves. Marek Hrbas added two assists.
Ty Rimmer had 22 saves in 21/2 periods of work. Rimmer, who tweaked his left leg early in the third in stopping a shot, left the game after allowing the Blazers' fourth goal.
The Americans, with Mason Wilgosh, Marcus Messier and Malte Strmwall already on the injured list, lost rookie Tyson Dallman with a left leg injury in the first period.
Tri-City will host Portland on Friday in a key U.S. Division matchup.
