WHL Roundup: Dach’s big night leads Blades over Hurricanes

 

Kamloops Blazers (2) at Brandon Wheat Kings (3)
Kamloops (14-16-0-1) // Brandon (23-7-0-1)

Make it nine in a row for the Brandon Wheat Kings.

In the absence of Tanner Kaspick (St. Louis Blues) and Kale Clague (Los Angeles Kings) at Hockey Canada’s selection camp, the Wheat Kings’ depth players stepped up to deliver a 3-2 win against the visiting Kamloops Blazers Tuesday.

Dylan Myskiw led the way with 43 saves, but goals from Evan Weinger, Jonny Hooker and Baron Thompson also helped make the difference in the one-goal victory.

Garrett Pilon (Washington Capitals) opened the scoring 13:23 into the first, but Weinger’s 14th goal of the season kept things tied after 20 minutes. In the second, Hooker scored 4:23 into the period and Thompson added the game winner on the power play 1:21 later for the game-winning goal.

Carson Denomie would score in the third to bring the Blazers within a goal, but couldn’t even the score. Myskiw held the Blazers back with 15 saves in the first, nine in the second and 19 more in the third.

Dylan Ferguson made 30 saves in the loss.

The #BWK have jumped out to a 3-1 lead over the Kamloops Blazers at Westman Place. 2nd period Wheat King goals by Jonny Hooker and Baron Thompson. #bdnmb pic.twitter.com/Mf7R5PwKLs

— Brandon Wheat Kings (@bdnwheatkings) December 13, 2017

Lethbridge Hurricanes (3) at Saskatoon Blades (5)
Lethbridge (14-14-2-0) // Saskatoon (13-16-2-1)

Cameron Hebig scored twice and finished with four points Tuesday as the Saskatoon Blades gave the Lethbridge Hurricanes a rough welcome to the province of Saskatchewan to begin a five-game road trip through the East Division.

The Blades tallied three first period goals Tuesday, thanks to Bradly Goethals, Hebig’s first of the game and Josh Paterson, keeping the Hurricanes off the board in the same breath.

Dylan Cozens would break up Nolan Maier’s shutout bid 2:52 into the second period, but fellow rookie Kirby Dach restored the three-goal lead for the Blades near the midway mark of the period. The Hurricanes kept coming in the period though, with Calen Addison tallying his seventh goal of the season, keeping Lethbridge within a pair of goals.

In the third, Jake Elmer brought the visiting side within a goal of tying the game, but that’s as close as they would come as Hebig notched his second of the game to provide extra insurance for the victory.

Dach had himself a game, tallying four points, including the game-winning goal while Elmer finished with a goal and an assist for the Hurricanes.

Maier wasn’t perfect, but was good enough to earn the victory, making 28 saves. Stuart Skinner (Edmonton Oilers) stopped 36 of 41 shots in the loss.

🎥 Hear from Head Coach Dean Brockman after tonight's 5-3 win over the Lethbridge Hurricanes#RiseWithUs pic.twitter.com/ju6U57D6y4

— Saskatoon Blades (@BladesHockey) December 13, 2017

Kelowna Rockets (3) at Moose Jaw Warriors (6)
Kelowna (18-10-2-1) // Moose Jaw (26-5-1-1)

The new-look Moose Jaw Warriors continued their winning ways as both Vince Loschiavo and Ryan Peckford picked up their first points with their new clubs in a 6-3 win.

Loschiavo scored the game-winning goal while Peckford on the Warriors’ sixth goal as the Warriors won their sixth game in a row and took points from their 12th straight, tallying five unanswered goals in the third period to change the balance of the game.

Carsen Twarynski (Philadelphia Flyers) and Tanner Jeannot traded goals in the first period. In the second, Wil Kushniryk scored his first career WHL goal and Kyle Topping added his 11th of the season to put the Warriors on their heels after 40 minutes.

It was only a matter of time until the Warriors found their legs in the third period though. Jayden Halbgewachs and Justin Almeida tallied their 33rd and 17th goals of the season within 44 seconds of each other to tie up the game.

Five minutes later, the Warriors went ahead for good on Loschiavo’s eighth of the season, followed by Tanner Jeannot’s 24th of the season and Almeida’s second of the game to round out the offence.

Brody Willms made 27 saves for his 19th victory of the season. Roman Basran stopped 34 of 39 shots in the loss.

Brayden Burke tallied three assists, giving him 215 for his WHL career while Josh Brook (Montreal Canadiens) added two helpers.

POSTGAME: Vince Loschiavo December 12 2017 pic.twitter.com/jENPMwHZxu

— Moose Jaw Warriors (@MJWARRIORS) December 13, 2017

Prince Albert Raiders (1) at Swift Current Broncos (2)
Prince Albert (12-13-5-2) // Swift Current (23-7-2-0)

The 100th career goal of Matteo Gennaro’s WHL career came in his 300th career WHL game against the team he scored his first with back in the 2013-14 season as he helped the Swift Current Broncos sink the Prince Albert Raiders Tuesday in Speedy Creek.

Gennaro’s goal was a heartbreaker for his former club as it broke open a 1-1 deadlock with 21 seconds left in the third period, giving the Broncos a valuable two points in the standings to keep pace with the Wheat Kings and Warriors, who also won.

Colby Sissons (New Jersey Devils) opened the scoring 5:46 into the second period with his seventh of the season coming on the power play, but Cole Fonstad tied things up 26 seconds into the third to keep the playing field level until Gennaro’s late goal.

Max Patterson picked up a pair of primary assists in the game while Glenn Gawdin (Calgary Flames) and Sahvan Khaira also picked up helpers. Logan Flodell made 34 saves on 35 shots for another superb goaltending performance.

Ian Scott (Toronto Maple Leafs) made 27 saves on 29 shots, but took the loss in net for the Raiders. Jordy Stallard (Winnipeg Jets) and Max Martin picked up assists for the Raiders.

.@gens_21 300th #WHL game is one to remember! #OurTeamOurTown

READ: https://t.co/jKRCsRp7j1 pic.twitter.com/F8YlFFDNQz

— Swift Current Broncos (@SCBroncos) December 13, 2017

Victoria Royals (4) at Prince George Cougars (5)
Victoria (20-11-3-0) // Prince George (12-14-3-2)

The Prince George Cougars nearly let another 3-0 game slip away from them, but found the resolve to squeak out a 5-4 victory Tuesday in the tail-end of a doubleheader with the Victoria Royals.

Getting to Dean McNabb early, the Cougars received goals from  Vladislav Mikhalchuk and pair from Ryan Schoettler to put them up 3-0 after 40 minutes.

The Royals came roaring back in the third period though. First, Igor Martynov and Cole Moberg traded goals for the Royals and Cougars respectively. But in the following 2:23, the Royals tied up the game on goals from Dino Kambeitz, Tyler Soy (Anaheim Ducks) and Kaid Oliver.

The Cougars would ultimately prevail though, with Max Kryski scoring his first WHL goal with 5:36 to go in the contest to count as the game-winner. WHL veteran Nic Holowko, whose signing was announced earlier in the day, picked up his first point with the Cougars on the play, earning the primary assist.

Tavin Grant lost his shutout bid in the third period, but finished with 41 saves and the victory. McNabb stopped 20 shots in the loss.

Not only has he scored his 1st @TheWHL goal, but @Mkryski_7 has put the Cougars back in the lead! 🚨 pic.twitter.com/QFKKFJp2z7

— Prince George Cougars (@PGCougars) December 13, 2017

Portland Winterhawks (4) at Spokane Chiefs (2)
Portland (21-9-0-1) // Spokane (16-12-1-2)

Keoni Texeira dangled his way through the entire Spokane Chiefs for a memorable goal that stood up as the game-winner as the Portland Winterhawks found their way back into the win column Tuesday.

Snapping a five-game losing streak, the Winterhawks received 30 saves from Cole Kehler while Joachim Blichfeld (San Jose Sharks) scored the 40th and 41st goals of his WHL career in the victory and Skyler McKenzie (Winnipeg Jets) picked up a pair of assists.

Hudson Elynuik (Carolina Hurricanes) scored his 15th of the season as the lone goal of the first, but the Winterhawks rallied with goals from Blichfeld and Kieffer Bellows (New York Islanders) in the second, keeping the score tied after  Kailer Yamamoto (Edmonton Oilers) tallied his second of the season.

Texeira then dazzled his way through the Chiefs’ defence, picking the puck up on his own blue line and taking it to the other end, beating Donovan Buskey for the deciding goal. Blichfeld took a generous pass from McKenzie in the dying seconds on a 2-on-0 breakaway to complete the multi-goal game.

🚨🚨🚨WINTERHAWKS WIN 🚨🚨🚨 @joachimblich WITH ANOTHER GOAL TO END THE GAME!

4-2 #Winterhawks pic.twitter.com/5AYXBnAMyp

— Portland Winterhawks (@pdxwinterhawks) December 13, 2017