WEDNESDAY’S WHL ROUND-UP
CHIEFS TOP BRUINS IN SHOOTOUT; GORE STOPS 77 SHOTS IN LOSS – A 77-save performance in regulation play from goaltender Lucas Gore wasn’t enough to stop the Spokane Chiefs from posting a 2-1 victory in a shootout over the visiting Chilliwack Bruins in Western Hockey League action on Wednesday.
Tyler Johnson and Blake Gal scored in the shootout for the Chiefs (46-17-4-2), who fired 78 shots on the Bruins’ net through 65 minutes of action as they stretch their winning streak to eight games. Matt Marantz – with his 19th of the season – was the only Chief to beat Gore in regulation. James Reid made 22 saves through three periods and overtime, and wasn’t beaten in the shootout to record the victory.
Ryan Howse – with his 51st goal of the season – scored the only marker for the Bruins (32-30-4-4), who move one point ahead of Vancouver for fifth place in the Western Conference thanks to the point gained from the shootout loss.
THUNDERBIRDS 5, ROCKETS 0
Calvin Pickard made 23 saves to claim his first shutout and 27th win of the season as the visiting Seattle Thunderbirds managed a 5-0 victory over the Kelowna Rockets on Wednesday.
Burke Gallimore, Chance Lund, Travis Toomey, Luke Lockhart and Marcel Noebels scored and Brenden Dillon chipped in three assists for the Thunderbirds (27-33-4-5), who now sit tied with Kamloops for ninth place in the Western Conference and only three points back of Prince George for eighth place.
Jordon Cooke made 28 saves in the defeat for the Rockets (42-27-0-1), who see a four-game winning streak come to an end but have already clinched the B.C. Division title and are locked in to second place in the Western Conference.
SILVERTIPS 2, AMERICANS 1
Ryan Harrison’s third-period power play marker was enough to lift the visiting Everett Silvertips to a 2-1 triumph over the Tri-City Americans on Wednesday.
Josh Winquist also scored for the Silvertips (28-30-7-4), who snap a seven-game losing skid and move one point ahead of Prince George for seventh place in the Western Conference. Luke Siemens turned in a 35-save effort to backstop the ‘Tips to the victory.
Patrick Holland – with his 22nd of the season – tallied the lone marker for the Americans (41-24-2-2), who have dropped five of their last eight games on home ice. Drew Owsley made 22 saves in a losing cause.
RAIDERS 6, HITMEN 2
Mark McNeill scored a shorthanded marker and added an assist to help the visiting Prince Albert Raiders to a 6-2 victory over the Calgary Hitmen on Wednesday.
Brandon Herrod and Justin Maylan also each notched a goal and an assist while Austin Connor, Todd Fiddler and Igor Revenko also scored for the Raiders (29-36-2-3), who move four points up on Lethbridge for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, guaranteeing them at least a tiebreaker for eighth place. Jamie Tucker made 34 saves in the win.
Rob Trzonkowski and Alex Roach scored for the Hitmen (20-45-3-2), who allowed the game’s first six goals before scoring twice late in the third period. Brandon Glover made 30 saves in the defeat.
BLADES 3, WARRIORS 2 S/O
Marek Viedensky and Brayden Schenn scored in a shootout to lift the Saskatoon Blades to a 3-2 win over the visiting Moose Jaw Warriors on Wednesday.
Matej Stransky and Darian Dziurzynski scored in regulation for the Blades (54-13-1-2), who have won eight of their last 10 games and boast a WHL-leading 111 points this season. Steven Stanford made 33 saves through regulation and overtime, and wasn’t beaten in the shootout to record his 39th win of the season.
Jesse Paradis and Torrin White – with his first WHL goal – scored for the Warriors (39-25-2-4), who see a three-game winning streak come to an end. Thomas Heemskerk made 42 saves through 65 minutes of play, but was beaten twice in the shootout to take the loss.
WINTERHAWKS 5, GIANTS 3
Brad Ross notched a goal and two assists to pace the Portland Winterhawks to a 5-3 victory over the visiting Vancouver Giants on Wednesday.
Troy Rutkowski – with his 10th of the season – Ryan Johansen, Seth Swenson and Riley Boychuk also scored for the Winterhawks (48-18-0-3), who win their third straight contest and remain one point up on Spokane for first place in the Western Conference. Keith Hamilton made 28 saves to claim his 16th win of the season.
Nathan Burns, James Henry and Greg Lamoureux scored for the Giants (33-31-1-4), who see their losing skid hit seven games as they drop to sixth place in the Western Conference. Brendan Jensen made 26 saves through 55 minutes of action after replacing starter Mark Segal, who allowed two goals on two shots in the game’s first five minutes.
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