WHL Roundup: ICE benefit from offensive explosion against Blades

 

Medicine Hat Tigers (4) at Moose Jaw Warriors (5) — OT
Medicine Hat (24-17-4-0) // Moose Jaw (36-7-1-2)

The Medicine Hat Tigers gave an East Division contender all they could handle for the second straight night, but Moose Jaw Warriors captain Brett Howden (Tampa Bay Lightning) wasn’t about to let his team be overcome in a battle of division leaders.

Howden found the puck and banged in a rebound on a one-on-three scramble in the crease to lift the Warriors to a 5-4 overtime victory Sunday at Mosaic Place as they avoided losing for the second time in as many days.

Things started out well for the Warriors, with Brandon Schuldhaus scoring the lone goal of the first, followed by his second of the game early in the period and the fourth goal of the season from Dmitri Zaitsev (Washington Capitals), building up a 3-0 lead.

Kristians Rubins would get the Tigers on the board with his fourth of the season to cut the gap to two heading into the third where the Tigers would find more momentum.

Jayden Halbgewachs (San Jose Sharks) had appeared to put the game out of reach 6:41 into the third, but the Tigers fought back with three goals. The First two came from Jaeger White and Bryan Locker, but the completion of the comeback had to wait until the final minute when Mark Rassell’s team-leading 37th goal of the season forced overtime.

It took exactly 186 seconds for the game to be decided from that point out, with Howden putting the finishing touches on a three-point game. Halbgewachs also enjoyed a three-point performance in the game. Ryan Peckford added a pair of assists while both Kale Clague (Los Angeles Kings) and Brayden Burke added a single helper.

Brody Willms made some outstanding stops to deny the Tigers two points Sunday, making 37 saves. Jordan Hollett (Ottawa Senators) made 35 saves at the other end of the ice.

David Quenneville (New York Islanders) picked up an assist in the game while rookie Josh Williams picked up his first point, an assist, since returning from injury in early January.

Warrior Goal 5 by #21 Brett Howden (OT Winner) Brought to you by: https://t.co/9Af6f8rNtO via @YouTube

— Moose Jaw Warriors (@MJWARRIORS) January 15, 2018

Saskatoon Blades (2) at Kootenay ICE (7)
Saskatoon (22-20-2-1) // Kootenay (19-22-3-0)

A five-goal first period from the Kootenay ICE paved the way to the team’s 19th victory of the season Sunday at home.

Hosting the Saskatoon Blades, the ICE received a pair of goals and three points from Brett Davis (Dallas Stars), a goal and four points from Colton Kroeker and three assists from Cameron Hausinger. Martin Bodak also added a pair of assists and Duncan McGovern earned his eighth victory of the season after making 28 saves on 30 shots.

The ICE seized control of the game in a 3:54 span during the first seven minute of the first with goals from Davis, Alec Baer and Kroeker. Davis would add his second of the game 10:18 into the opening period, creating a four-goal hole for the Blades.

Max Gerlach’s 19th of the season would provide some optimism for the club, but the ICE were ready with a response 63 seconds later on Colton Veloso’s 15th goal of the year.

Keenan Taphorn and Sam Huston added goals for the ICE in the second while Jake Kustra had the lone goal of the third period on the Blades’ side.

Tyler Brown finished with 25 saves in the loss. Eric Florchuk added a pair of assists, giving him four points in his first two games with his new club.

The losing streak is OVER 😭🙌🏼

Final Score:
7-2 ICE ❄️

Shots on Goal
ICE: 36
Blades: 30#ICEvSAS #ICEcountry #BilletNight pic.twitter.com/wnLom5jobu

— Winnipeg ICE (@WHLWpgICE) January 15, 2018

Everett Silvertips (4) at Portland Winterhawks (3) — SO
Everett (27-16-1-1) // Portland (26-13-1-3)

Matt Fontyene scored his team-leading 25th goal in regulation and then scored the decisive goal in the shootout as the Everett Silvertips pulled even with the Portland Winterhawks in the U.S. Division lead following a 4-3 victory in extra time.

The Winterhawks opened up Sunday’s game with a goal from Skyler McKenzie (Winnipeg Jets) as the only goal of the first period, but Everett responded in the middle period with goals from Fontyene and Martin Fasko-Rudas giving them the one-goal advantage after 40 minutes.

Kieffer Bellows (New York Islanders) notched his 22nd of the season 78 seconds into the third period to tie up the game, but that even score would only last for six minutes, with Connor Dewar scoring his 19th of the season to restore Everett’s lead.

Searching for the equalizer in the second half of the period, the Winterhawks would once again find their answer coming from the stick of McKenzie as he found the back of the net on a beautiful tip from a Bellows shot for his 33rd goal of the season.

Both teams would battle it out into the shootout, where each team found their way to score once through each of their first three shooters with Patrick Bajkov and Bellows finding the back of the net. It would take only one more round to decide a winner though as Ryan Hughes missed for Portland, setting the stage for Fontyene’s winner.

Carter Hart (Philadelphia Flyers) doesn’t have many games where he gives up three goals, but still came away with the victory. Cole Kehler (Los Angeles Kings) stopped 39 of 42 shots in regulation and overtime.

FONTEYNE

SEZ

LIGHTS OUT!!!

SHOOTOUT WINNER!! pic.twitter.com/oAERRQk19B

— Everett Silvertips (@WHLsilvertips) January 15, 2018