WHL Tonight: Giants tame Tigers to close out perfect weekend

 

A slate of five games brought a close to another weekend of Western Hockey League action Sunday. There were overtime celebrations for the Red Deer Rebels in Regina and the Everett Silvertips in Spokane as Arshdeep Bains and Bryce Kindopp played the role of extra-time hero. In Calgary, the Edmonton Oil Kings scored late to down their rivals by a single goal. In British Columbia’s Lower Mainland, the Vancouver Giants dispatched of the visiting Medicine Hat Tigers in a rare matchup at the Langley Events Centre. Finally, in Portland, the Kamloops Blazers used a four-goal barrage in the first period to earn a victory against the Winterhawks.

Red Deer Rebels at Regina Pats – Scoring & Highlights

The Red Deer Rebels came out ahead in a see-saw battle Sunday, beating the Regina Pats 3-2 in overtime off of Arshdeep Bains’ second goal of the season.

Chase Leslie opened the scoring in the second for the visitors, but Zack Smith’s first WHL goal kept the teams tied after 40 minutes. Late in the third, Josh Tarzwell sent the Rebels ahead by a goal, only for Pats’ captain Austin Pratt to respond in the final minute of regulation to force extra time. The flurry of goals included the game-winning goal in overtime as Bains struck just 48 seconds into the extra period, marking three goals in a span of 2:11 of game play.

Byron Fancy stopped 25 of 27 shots for the victory.

Edmonton Oil Kings at Calgary Hitmen – Scoring & Highlights

David Kope scored just inside the final minute of regulation to lift the Edmonton Oil Kings to a 3-2 win against the Calgary Hitmen Sunday afternoon.

Carson Focht’s (Vancouver Canucks) 10th goal of the season served as the only goal of the opening period, but the Oil Kings levelled the game as Jacson Alexander scored the only goal of the middle period. Calgary went ahead again on James Malm’s second of the season, but the Oil Kings responded with Ethan Cap’s first of the season and Kope’s winner to earn the two points.

Todd Scott stopped 38 of 40 shots to earn the victory.

Medicine Hat Tigers at Vancouver Giants – Scoring & Highlights

Milos Roman (Calgary Flames) and 2020 NHL Draft prospect Lukas Svejkovsky each had a goal and an assist as the Vancouver Giants earned a 5-2 win against the visiting Medicine Hat Tigers Sunday.

Tristen Nielsen had the lone goal of the first period, but Nick McCarry responded 77 seconds into the second period to tie up the game. The Giants would take a one-goal lead into the third period as Zack Ostapchuk netted his second of the season.

Vancouver roared ahead with three goals in the third as Dylan Plouffe, Svejkovsky, and Roman all found the back of the net. Trevor Longo brought the visitors within a goal with less than five minutes to go in regulation, but the late strikes helped to swell the lead to three.

Trent Miner (Colorado Avalanche) had another strong night, stopping 33 of 35 shots for the victory.

Everett Silvertips at Spokane Chiefs – Scoring & Highlights

Captain Bryce Kindopp scored on a penalty shot in overtime as the Everett Silvertips moved back into first place in the U.S. Division with a 4-3 win over the Spokane Chiefs.

The goal was Kindopp’s second of the game as the Silvertips scored once in each period. Jalen Price opened the scoring in the first and 2020 NHL Draft prospect Michal Gut got Everett’s second goal of the game in the second before Kindopp scored in the third and overtime.

Goals from Adam Beckman (Minnesota Wild) and Michael King had the Chiefs up 2-1 after 20 minutes. Just 17 seconds after Kindopp made it a 3-2 game in the third, Eli Zummack tied up the game.

Dustin Wolf (Calgary Flames) stopped 37 of 40 shots to earn the victory. Wyatte Wylie (Philadelphia Flyers) collected three assists in the win.

Bear Hughes and Luke Toporowski each had a pair of assists for the Chiefs.

Kamloops Blazers at Portland Winterhawks – Scoring & Highlights

The Kamloops Blazers scored four times in the first period, then held on for a wild 6-5 victory against the Portland Winterhawks Sunday.

2020 NHL Draft prospect Connor Zary scored twice in the game while Ryan Hughes and Orrin Centazzo each contributed a goal and an assist. Captain Zane Franklin and Max Martin each added a pair of helpers in the win while 2020 NHL Draft prospect Dylan Garand stopped 24 of 25 shots for the victory. Inaki Baragano and Josh Pillar also scored for Kamloops.

2020 NHL Draft prospect Seth Jarvis had a pair of goals as part of a three-point night. Mason Mannek and 2020 NHL Draft prospects Simon Knak and Cross Hanas also scored in the one-goal loss. Jaydon Dureau and Jake Gricius each had a pair of assists in the defeat.