MONDAY’S WHL MATCH-UPS
BLAZERS WELCOME GIANTS – Chase Schaber and the Kamloops Blazers (3-3-0-1) host Marek Tvrdon and the Vancouver Giants (4-3-1-0) for the back half of a home-and-home series between the teams in Western Hockey League action on Monday.
The Blazers are coming off a 5-4 overtime victory over the Giants in Vancouver on Saturday night for their second win in a row. The Blazers are 2-1-0-1 though their first four games at home. Schaber (4g-7a) shares the Blazers’ team lead in scoring with 11 points.
The Giants saw a three-game winning streak come to an end with Saturday’s defeat to the visiting Blazers. The Giants’ power play is operating at 11.8 per cent efficiency on the road. 17-year-old Slovakian rookie Marek Tvrdon has racked up six goals and 10 points in eight games this season.
Elsewhere on Monday, Ryan Howse and the Chilliwack Bruins (3-2-0-0) welcome Mark McNeill and the Prince Albert Raiders (3-4-1-0).
The Bruins dropped a 6-3 decision to the visiting Seattle Thunderbirds on Saturday night, snapping a three-game winning streak. Ryan Howse and Roman Horak have accounted for 13 of the Bruins’ 20 goals this season.
The Raiders dropped a 3-2 decision in overtime in Kelowna on Saturday for their second straight defeat on their B.C. Division road trip. The Raiders are 1-2-1 on the road this season.
In Edmonton, AB, Griffin Reinhart and the Edmonton Oil Kings (4-2-0-0) host Brett Connolly and the Prince George Cougars (3-4-0-0) on Monday.
The Oil Kings skated to a 4-03 win over the visiting Swift Current Broncos on Saturday for their fourth straight victory. 16-year-old rookie defenseman Griffin Reinhart scored his first career WHL goal – the game-winner – in Saturday’s triumph over the Broncos.
The Cougars are coming off a 5-3 win over the Tigers in Medicine Hat on Saturday night for their second win in their last three games. The Cougars’ penalty killing unit has killed off 30 of 34 power plays they’ve faced through the team’s first seven games.
In Moose Jaw, SK, Dylan Hood and the Moose Jaw Warriors (2-6-0-0) host Jordan Messier and the Tri-City Americans (6-2-1-0) on Monday.
The Warriors suffered a 3-0 loss to the visiting Red Deer Rebels on Saturday for their second straight setback. The Warriors’ power play has connected for just three goals on 31 chances through the team’s first eight games.
The Americans posted a 3-1 win in Brandon over the Wheat Kings on Saturday night for their second victory in as many nights. Messier shares the team lead with six goals this season.
In Swift Current, SK, Cody Eakin and the Swift Current Broncos (2-6-0-0) host Max Reinhart and the Kootenay Ice (3-2-0-0) on Monday.
The Broncos dropped a 4-3 decision in Edmonton to the Oil Kings on Saturday night after blanking the Hitmen 3-0 in Calgary on Friday night. Eakin has three goals and six points in five games this season.
The Ice doubled up the Hurricanes 6-3 in Lethbridge on Saturday night. Reinhart leads the Ice with five goals and shares the team lead with seven points.
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