WHL HEADLINES – Friday Night Recap

VISITING ‘TIPS UPEND ROCKETS IN SERIES OPENER – Peter Mueller (pictured) scored twice and added an assist to lead the visiting Everett Silvertips to a 5-3 victory over the Kelowna Rockets in Game 1 of their KalTire Western Conference semi-final series on Friday, April 7th.
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rBrady Calla – with the game-winner – Shaun Heshka and Karel Hromas also scored for the Silvertips, who have won four straight playoff games in Kelowna dating back to the 2004 post-season. Leland Irving stopped 15 of 18 shots fired his way to ear his fifth victory of the post season. With the victory, the Silvertips grab a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series, and steal home-ice advantage from the Rockets.
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rChris Ray – with a goal and two helpers – Clayton Bauer and Blake Comeau scored for the Rockets – the defending WHL champs – while Derek Yeomans stopped 23 of 27 shots in a losing cause. The defeat leaves the Rockets down 0-1 in the best-of-seven series.
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rElsewhere in KalTire Western Conference semi-final action on Friday, 16-year-old rookie goaltender Kurtis Mucha turned in a spectacular 41-save performance to backstop the visiting Portland Winter Hawks to a 1-0 victory over the Vancouver Giants in the opening game of their second-round series.
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rStanislav Balan scored the only goal – a first-period power play marker – for the Winter Hawks, who successfully killed off all four Vancouver power plays in the contest. The victory gives the Hawks a 1-0 lead over the giants in the best-of-seven series, and steals the home-ice advantage.
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rDustin Slade stopped 12 of 13 shots for the Giants, who dominated play but could not put one past Mucha. The loss leaves the Giants down 0-1 in the best-of-seven series, and sees them lose home-ice advantage in the series.
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rMNP EASTERN CONFERENCE SEMI-FINAL RECAP
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rDaine Todd scored his seventh and eighth goals of the playoffs to lead the Medicine Hat Tigers to a 5-1 victory over the visiting Saskatoon Blades in the opening game of their MNP Eastern Conference semi-final series on Friday night.
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rRoman Psurny and David Schlemko each tallied a goal and an assist for the Tigers, who have won five straight games to start the post-season, while Tommy Maxwell also counted in the victory. Matt Keetley stopped 22 of 23 shots to pick up the victory. The win gives the Tigers a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.
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rDevin Setoguchi – with his eighth of the playoffs – scored the lone goal for the Blades, who were held scoreless on eight power play opportunities in the contest, while Anton Khudobin stopped 33 of 38 shots in a losing cause. The defeat leaves the Blades down 0-1 in the best-of-seven series.
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