FRIDAY’S WHL PLAYOFF ROUND-UP
ICE TOP TIGERS IN OVERTIME – Cody Eakin scored 5:59 into overtime to lift the visiting Kootenay Ice to a 6-5 victory over the Medicine Hat Tigers in Game 1 of the 2011 Husky WHL Eastern Conference Championship series in WHL playoff action on Friday.
Matt Fraser tallied two goals and two assists while Max Reinhart added a goal and two helpers for the Ice, who stretch their post-season winning streak to eight games.
Drew Czerwonka and Erik Benoit also scored for Kootenay, who held a 3-1 lead after the first period, while Nathan Lieuwen made 30 saves to pick up his ninth win of the playoffs.
Emerson Etem scored twice and set up two more and Linden Vey tallied two goals and an assist for the Tigers, who gave up the tying goal with under two minutes to play in the third period, while Wacey Hamilton also counted. Tyler Bunz made 31 saves in the loss.
The Tigers host the Ice for Game 2 of the best-of-seven series on Saturday night.
Kootenay leads best-of-seven series 1-0
KAL TIRE WHL WESTERN CONFERENCE
CHIEFS 2, WINTERHAWKS 1
James Reid turned aside 27 of 28 shots he faced to backstop the visiting Spokane Chiefs to a 2-1 victory over the Portland Winterhawks in Game 1 of the 2011 Kal Tire WHL Western Conference Championship series on Friday.
Levko Koper’s power play marker 4:25 into the second period stood as the game-winner while Brady Brassart – with his first of the post-season – also scored for the Chiefs, who outshot the host Hawks 43-28 in the contest.
Ryan Johansen broke Reid’s shutout bid with his seventh of the playoffs with 24 seconds remaining in the third period. Mac Carruth made 41 saves in a losing cause.
The Winterhawks host the Chiefs for Game 2 of the series on Sunday night in Portland, OR.
Spokane leads best-of-seven series 1-0
–
