WHL Roundup: Giants declaw Cougars on WHL on Shaw, Pats win again
A trio of games dotted the Western Hockey League schedule Thursday night and, as always, fans were left with plenty to talk about.
The Vancouver Giants honoured late co-owner Pat Quinn with a big win over the BC Division-leading Prince George Cougars on WHL on Shaw, while the Regina Pats remained undefeated in regulation, though needed overtime to get past Zach Sawchenko and the Moose Jaw Warriors.
In Edmonton, second overall selection Kirby Dach made his WHL debut with the Saskatoon Blades, though it wasn’t enough to fuel his club to victory over the host Edmonton Oil Kings.
Let’s get straight down to business…
Saskatoon Blades (2) at Edmonton Oil Kings (4)
Saskatoon (8-10-1-0) // Edmonton (7-9-2-0)
The Edmonton Oil Kings scored twice in the final 10 minutes of regulation, snapping a 2-2 tie en route to a 4-2 victory over the Saskatoon Blades Thursday night.
Rookie Trey Fix-Wolansky scored the eventual game-winner with 8:32 remaining in the third period, beating Logan Flodell to give Edmonton a 3-2 advantage before captain Aaron Irving scored his second goal of the night into an empty net, sealing the victory.
Kirby Dach, the second overall pick from the 2016 WHL Bantam Draft, made his WHL debut Thursday night, suiting up for the Blades. The 6-foot-2, 170-pound Dach is a native of nearby Fort Saskatchewan went without a point in his debut, but stacked up four points (2G-2A) in six pre-season games.
Patrick Dea made 34 saves between the pipes for Edmonton, earning his sixth victory of the season. The outcome gives Edmonton two consecutive victories as they moved past the Calgary Hitmen and within one point of the Lethbridge Hurricanes in the WHL’s Central Division.
Regina Pats (5) at Moose Jaw Warriors (4)
Regina (13-0-3-0) // Moose Jaw (11-4-3-0)
Another night, another win for the Regina Pats.
Ho hum.
This one didn’t come easily though as the Pats required overtime in order to get past the Moose Jaw Warriors by a 5-4 margin Thursday night.
That being said, the CHL’s top-ranked team did hammer 51 shots in on reigning CHL Goaltender of the Week Zach Sawchenko, who made 46 saves in the overtime defeat. Filip Ahl got the best of Sawchenko, scoring three times to pace the Pats.
In overtime, it was Sam Steel tallying his 15th goal of the campaign on a power play only 19 seconds into the extra period to give Regina its 13th win of the season. Steel finished the night with a goal and an assist, becoming the first WHL player to hit the 30-point plateau this season.
Reigning WHL Player of the Week Connor Hobbs had a pair of assists and Pats captain Adam Brooks continued his strong start since returning to the club, notching three helpers of his own.
Tyler Brown laid claim to his eighth win of the season by making 23 saves.
Prince George Cougars (2) at Vancouver Giants (4)
Prince George (14-4-2-0) // Vancouver (9-11-0-0)
James Malm scored twice and Dawson Holt registered the game-winning tally as the Vancouver Giants doubled up the Prince George Cougars 4-2 Thursday night on WHL on Shaw, ensuring that dastardly BC Division remained ever so close.
Radovan Bondra finished the night with a goal and an assist for the Giants, while Ryan Kubic made 35 saves for his eighth win of the season.
Brad Morrison and Cole Moberg replied on the scoreboard for the Cougars. Nick McBride made 37 saves as he faced 41 shots in the loss.
The win moved the Giants within two points of the Kelowna Rockets for fourth place in the BC Division, while only four points separates the second place Victoria Royals from the fifth place Giants. Despite the loss, the Cougars still hold an eight-point advantage on Victoria.
In honour of late co-owner Pat Quinn, the Giants donned special edition blue and green jerseys in recognition of the Big Irishman, who will be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame this weekend.
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