WHL HEADLINES

SATURDAY NIGHT’S WHL PLAYOFF MATCH-UPS – Eric Fehr (pictured) and the Brandon Wheat Kings have their sights set on the second round as they visit Dustin Boyd‘s Moose Jaw Warriors tonight in game five of the opening-round series between the East division combatants.
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rThe Wheat Kings beat the Warriors 4-3 last night to claim a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series and could advance to the next round with a victory tonight. Fehr (3g-4a) leads the Wheat Kings in playoff scoring with seven points though the first four games of the series.
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rThe Warriors, down 1-3 in the series, got tallies from Troy Brouwer, Kenndal McArdle and Blair Jones in last night’s defeat. The Warriors have held the powerful Brandon power play to just one goal on 10 chances through the two games in Moose Jaw.
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rGame six, if necessary, will be Tuesday night in Brandon.
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rElsewhere tonight, the Vancouver Giants will try and stave off elimination as they host the Kelowna Rockets in game six of their first-round series.
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rTonight’s contest between the Rockets and Giants can be seen throughout the Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and B.C. regions on SHAW, and in Portland on Comcast.
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rThe Giants were defeated 3-2 in Kelowna last night and trail the Rockets three games to two in the best-of-seven series. Vancouver needs to win tonight to send the series to a seventh game. Vancouver scratches: Scott Gabriel, Luke Egener.
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rThe Rockets earned a 3-2 win last night to stake a 3-2 series lead and could eliminate the Giants with a win tonight in Vancouver. Rockets’ captain Brett Palin scored the game-winner and added an assist last night. Kelowna scratches: Kevin Reinholt.
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rGame seven, if necessary, will be in Kelowna on Wednesday.
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rThe Seattle Thunderbirds welcome the Tri-City Americans tonight in game five of their first-round series.
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rThe Thunderbirds fell 3-2 in overtime last night in Kennewick, but still have a 3-1 lead over the Americans in the best-of-seven series. A win tonight would send the T-Birds into the next round of the post-season.
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rThe Americans, down 1-3 in the series, staved off elimination last night thanks to Marc Connors‘ overtime heroics but need a win tonight to stay alive in the series. Ian McDonald and Andy Thompson lead the Ams in playoff scoring with a goal and three assists apiece. Tri-City scratches: Jason Beeman.
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rGame six, if necessary, will be in Kennewick on Tuesday night.
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rIn other action tonight, the Everett Silvertips welcome the Portland Winter Hawks in game six of their opening-round match-up.
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rThe Tips fell 3-2 in Portland last night but remain ahead 3-2 in the best-of-seven series and could advance to the next round with a win tonight. Alex Leavitt (2g-4a) leads the ‘Tips in post-season scoring with six points. Everett scratches: Jeremy Creuer.
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rThe Winter Hawks, down 2-3 in the series, beat the ‘Tips 3-2 last night in Portland and need to win tonight to stay alive in the series. Brandon Dubinsky has been involved in seven of the Hawks’ nine goals in the series. Portland scratches: Michael Sauer.
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rGame seven, if necessary, will be Tuesday night in Portland.
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