WHL HEADLINES

WHL PLAYOFFS SATURDAY NIGHT RECAP – Martin Sagat scored a natural hat trick – including two empty-netters – to lead the Kootenay Ice to a 4-1 victory over the visiting Everett Silvertips in game two of their Western Conference semi-final match-up last night.
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rAdam Cracknell also scored for the Ice, who grab a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series, while Adam Taylor chipped in three assists. Jeff Glass turned aside 19 of 20 shots he faced in the victory.
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rIvan Baranka scored the lone goal for the Silvertips while Mike Wall made 23 saves in a losing effort. The loss leaves the Silvertips down 0-2 in the series. Everett hosts game three of the series on Monday night.
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rElsewhere last night, Ladislav Scurko scored his second goal of the game with only 16 seconds remaining in regulation time to lift the visiting Seattle Thunderbirds to a 3-2 victory over the Kelowna Rockets in game two of their Western Conference semi-final series on Saturday night.
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rAaron Gagnon scored once and added a pair of assists for the T-Birds, who stake a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series, while Derek Couture chipped in a pair of helpers in the win. Bryan Bridges turned in a 22-saves effort for the victory.
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rTyler Spurgeon and Brent Howarth scored for the Rockets while Derek Yeomans stopped 28 shots in a losing cause. The defeat leaves the Rockets down 0-2 heading into game three on Tuesday night in Seattle.
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rIn Brandon, Eric Fehr scored the game-winner as the Wheat Kings managed a 5-1 victory over the visiting Calgary Hitmen in game two of their Eastern Conference semi-final series on Saturday night.
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rLance Monych scored a pair of goals and chipped in an assist for the Wheat Kings, who even up the best-of-seven series at 1-1, while Codey Burki and Derek LeBlanc also scored in the victory. Tyler Plante stopped 25 of 26 shots for the victory.
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rAndrew Ladd tallied the lone goal for the Hitmen while Justin Pogge turned aside 18 of 21 shots he faced in the defeat. The loss leaves the Hitmen tied at 1-1 in the series heading into game three in Calgary on Tuesday night.
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rIn other action Saturday night, Darren Helm tallied a goal and an assist to lead the Medicine Hat Tigers to a 3-1 victory over the Prince Albert Raiders in game one of their Eastern Conference semi-final match-up.
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rJarret Lukin and Derek Dorsett also scored for the Tigers, who take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. Kevin Nastiuk stopped 19 shots for the victory.
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rCaine Pearpoint scored the lone goal for the Raiders while Rejean Beauchemin made 27 saves for his first defeat of the post-season. The Raiders held the Tigers scoreless on eight power play opportunities in the defeat.
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