WHL HEADLINES
SATURDAY NIGHT’S WHL PLAYOFF MATCH-UPS – Cam Barker (pictured) and the Medicine Hat Tigers host Jeremy Colliton and the Prince Albert Raiders tonight in game one of their Eastern conference semi-final match-up.
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rThe Tigers made their way to round two by ousting the Red Deer Rebels in a hard-fought seven-game series. Medicine Hat’s power play only connected three times on 35 opportunities in their first-round series with Red Deer. Barker is tied for the team lead with three goals through the first round of the playoffs.
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rThe Raiders have been off for over a week since wrapping up a four-game sweep of the Saskatoon Blades in their first-round series. Luke Fritshaw led all Raiders point-getters in the first round with two goals and two assists.
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rPrince Albert had the edge in the regular-season series versus Medicine Hat, with a 2-1-1 record in four games. The Raiders won the last playoff meeting between the teams with a 4-1 opening-round series win in 1996.
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rElsewhere tonight, the Brandon Wheat Kings look for redemption as they host the Calgary Hitmen in game two of their Eastern conference semi-final series.
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rTonight’s contest can be seen throughout the Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia regions on SHAW, and in Portland on Comcast.
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rThe Wheat Kings were shelled 10-1 by the Hitmen last night in Brandon – the most lopsided defeat any team has suffered all season. Brandon’s penalty-killing was lit up six times in 13 shorthanded situations last night. Brandon scratches: Teegan Moore.
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rThe Hitmen – up 1-0 in the best-of-seven series – almost doubled their playoff goal total with last night’s 10-1 pounding of the Wheat Kings. Brodie Dupont scored two goals and two assists in last night’s win. Calgary scratches: Darryl Yacboski.
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rThe series moves to Calgary for game three on Tuesday night.
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rThe Kelowna Rockets host the Seattle Thunderbirds tonight in game two of their Western conference semi-final match-up.
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rThe Rockets fell 2-1 to the T-Birds last night for only their sixth defeat on home ice all season. Kelowna’s penalty-killing has not been very solid at home in the playoffs, operating at only 71.4 per cent efficiency. Kelowna scratches: Kevin Reinholt.
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rThe T-Birds – up 1-0 in the best-of-seven series – got power play goals from Tyler Metcalfe and Yashar Farmanara in last night’s victory. Goaltender Bryan Bridges, who stopped 37 shots in last night’s win, has posted a 5-1 record with a 1.54 goals-against average so far through the playoffs. Seattle scratches: are Matthew Hansen and Bretton Stamler.
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rGame three of the series will be in Seattle on Tuesday night.
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rIn other action Saturday night, the Kootenay Ice host the Everett Silvertips in game two of their Western conference semi-final series.
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rThe Ice skated to a 4-2 victory over the âTips last night to claim a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. Kootenay has outscored its opposition 16-5 in their last three games. Rookie Steven DaSilva scored last night’s game-winner.
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rThe Silvertips – down 0-1 in the series – got goals from Ivan Baranka and Curtis Billsten in last night’s win. Everett’s power play has struck only twice in 24 man-advantage opportunities on the road so far in the post-season. Everett scratches: Jeremy Creuer.
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rThe series heads to Everett for game three on Monday night.
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