SUNDAY’S WHL PLAYOFF MATCH-UPS
WINTERHAWKS BATTLE ROCKETS IN GAME 2 IN PORTLAND – Ryan Johansen and the Portland Winterhawks host Shane McColgan and the Kelowna Rockets for Game 2 of their Kal Tire WHL Western Conference semi-final series in WHL playoff action on Sunday.
The Rockets claimed a 5-1 win over the Winterhawks in Game 1 of the series on Thursday night in Portland. Kelowna is now a perfect 5-0 in the 2011 WHL playoffs. McColgan scored three goals and four points in Thursday’s Game 1 win, and now has six goals and 14 points in just five games.
The Winterhawks find themselves trailing the series 0-1, and surrendered home-ice advantage with the loss at the Rose Garden. The Winterhawks fired 46 shots on Rockets’ netminder Adam Brown on Thursday. Johansen was held off the score sheet in Thursday’s loss, snapping his post-season point streak at four games.
Elsewhere in Kal Tire WHL Western Conference semi-final action on Sunday, Tyler Johnson and the Spokane Chiefs host Jordan Messier and the Tri-City Americans for Game 2 of their second-round series.
The Americans posted a 3-1 win over the Chiefs in Spokane on Saturday night to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. The Americans are also 5-0 in 2011 WHL playoff action.
The Chiefs fell to the Ams on Saturday night despite outshooting the visitors 35-18 in the contest. Spokane’s power play has connected for just three goals on 23 opportunities in the post-season.
