Friday’s WHL Round-up
HITMEN SHUT DOWN GIANTS – Martin Jones made 28 saves to record his seventh shutout and 44th win of the season as the visiting Calgary Hitmen skated to a 4-0 victory over the Vancouver Giants in a battle between the WHL’s top two teams on Friday, March 6th.
Brett Sonne notched a goal and two assists while Bostjan Golicic, Michael Stone and Kyle Bortis also scored for the Hitmen (57-9-3-0), who went 4-for-7 with the man advantage as they defeat the Giants for the second time this season. The victory leaves the Hitmen four points ahead of the Giants for first place overall in the WHL standings, but the Giants have three games in hand.
Tyson Sexsmith made 25 saves in a losing cause for the Giants (55-8-1-3), who see a six-game winning streak snapped while suffering just their third regulation loss on home ice this season.
BLADES 5, RAIDERS 4
Charles Inglis scored the go-ahead goal – his second of the game – 14:41 into the third period to lift the visiting Saskatoon Blades to a 5-4 win over the Prince Albert Raiders on Friday night.
With the win, the Blades tie the WHL record with their 28th road victory of the season.
Milan Kytnar, Adam Chorneyko and Travis Toomey also scored for the Blades (48-16-3-1), who become the third WHL team to hit the 100-point plateau this season. Braden Holtby made 33 saves to record his 40th victory of the season.
Ryan Harrison and Brandon Herrod each tallied a goal and an assist while Ryan McDonald and Justin Bernhardt also scored for the Raiders (29-35-4-1), who suffer their third loss in four games, but remain tied for eighth place in the Eastern Conference. Steven Stanford made 30 saves in the loss.
AMERICANS 4, THUNDERBIRDS 2
Adam Hughesman notched a goal and an assists as the visiting Tri-City Americans skated to a 4-2 win over the Seattle Thunderbirds on Friday.
With the win and Spokane’s loss in Prince George, the Americans clinch the U.S. Division title for a second straight season.
Johnny Lazo, Spencer Asuchak and Taylor Procyshen also scored for the Americans (48-17-0-3), who have won 10 of their last 11 games and have guaranteed themselves second place in the Western Conference. Brett Martyniuk made 27 saves to earn the win.
Chris Cloud and Jonathan Parker scored for the Thunderbirds (31-31-1-4), who drop their third straight contest. Calvin Pickard made 26 saves in the loss.
COUGARS 2, CHIEFS 0
Kevin Armstrong stopped all 31 shots he faced to post his second shutout of the season and defeat his former team as the Prince George Cougars blanked the visiting Spokane Chiefs 2-0 on Friday.
With the victory and Portland’s loss, the Cougars clinch the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
Marek Viedensky and Tyler Halliday scored for the Cougars (25-40-0-2), who score twice on the power play and outshot the Chiefs 39-31 in the contest.
Dustin Tokarski made 37 saves in a losing cause for the Chiefs (42-22-0-3), who suffer their second straight loss and fall to fourth place in the Western Conference.
ICE 3, REBELS 2
Andrew Bailey scored the go-ahead goal – his 25th of the season – midway through the third period to lead the visiting Kootenay Ice to a 3-2 victory over the Red Deer Rebels on Friday.
With the win, the Ice clinch a playoff berth in the Eastern Conference while moving past idle Lethbridge into sixth place in the Conference.
Kevin King – with a goal and an assist – and Tylan Stephens also scored for the Ice (32-27-2-6), who have guaranteed themselves a .500 or better record for a 10th straight season. Todd Mathews made 26 saves in the victory.
Joel Kot and Landon Ferraro scored for the Rebels (22-36-1-9), who drop their second straight decision and officially eliminated themselves from playoff contention. Darcy Kuemper made 22 saves in the defeat.
PATS 4, TIGERS 3
Matt Strueby scored two goals as his Regina Pats rallied to post a 4-3 victory over the visiting Medicine Hat Tigers on Friday.
Colten Teubert and Matt Robertson also scored for the Pats (26-35-1-5), who close to within five points of Edmonton and Prince Albert for eighth place in the Eastern Conference. Damien Ketlo made 27 saves to earn the win.
Sean Ringrose scored twice and Tyler Ennis added a goal and an assist for the Tigers (35-26-4-3), who let a 3-1 lead slip away as they drop their second decision in their last three games. Ryan Holfeld made 23 saves in the loss.
WHEAT KINGS 7, WARRIORS 4
Brayden Schenn scored twice and set up another while Aaron Lewadniuk notched two goals and an assist to lead the Brandon Wheat Kings to a 7-4 win over the visiting Moose Jaw Warriors on Friday.
Matt Calvert notched a goal and two assists, Jay Fehr picked up a goal and an assist and Mark Stone also scored for the Wheat Kings (45-18-3-2), who went 2-for-7 on the power play in the contest. Andrew Hayes made nine saves in 35 minutes of work to earn the win after replacing James Priestner, who allowed four goals in 25 minutes of work.
Jason Bast – with two goals – Ryan Stanton and Corey Scott scored for the Warriors (18-47-1-2), who led 4-2 early in the second period only to surrender five unanswered goals en route to their third straight loss. Deven Dubyk made 37 saves in the loss.
BRONCOS 3, OIL KINGS 1
Dillon Wagner’s eighth goal of the season early in the third period was the winner as the visiting Swift Current Broncos managed a 3-1 victory over the Edmonton Oil Kings on Friday.
Cody Eakin – with a goal and an assist – and Geordie Wudrick also scored for the Broncos (39-27-1-1), who pick up their fifth straight victory and pad their lead to three points over Medicine Hat for fourth place in the Eastern Conference. Travis Yonkman made 34 saves in the victory.
Jeff Lee – with his 20th of the season – scored the only goal for the Oil Kings (27-32-4-5), who drop their third straight decision but remain tied for eighth place in the Eastern Conference. Torrie Jung made 28 saves in the loss.
ROCKETS 3, BRUINS 1
Mikael Backlund scored his 10th goal of the season to lead the visiting Kelowna Rockets to a 3-1 win over the Chilliwack Bruins on Friday.
Lucas Bloodoff and Stepan Novotny also scored for the Rockets (42-21-1-3), who win their third straight game and move past Spokane into third place in the Western Conference. Mark Guggenberger made 14 saves in the victory.
Mike Krgovich – with his first of the season – scored the only goal for the Bruins (15-46-2-5), who suffer their seventh straight loss. Lucas Gore made 37 saves in the defeat.
BLAZERS 5, WINTER HAWKS 4
Tyler Shattock scored two goals to help the Kamloops Blazers to a 5-4 victory over the visiting Portland Winter Hawks on Friday.
Seth Compton, Shayne Wiebe and Brendan Ranford also scored for the Blazers (32-30-2-4), who pick up their fourth straight victory. Justin Leclerc made 27 saves to record his 28th win of the season.
Chris Francis – with a goal and three assists – Luke Walker, Travis Ehrhardt and Troy Rutkowski scored for the Winter Hawks (17-45-2-2), who are officially eliminated from playoff contention with the loss. Kurtis Mucha and Keith Hamilton combined for 28 saves in the loss.
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Photos courtesy of WHL Club Photographers: Andy Devlin, Dylan Lynch, Bob Frid, Mick White, OnSightPhoto