WHL Roundup: ICE, Rebels secure victories to keep Central race tight
Regina Pats (5) at Moose Jaw Warriors (3)
Regina (30-24-5-1) // Moose Jaw (43-10-1-2)
Josh Mahura (Anaheim Ducks) tallied a pair of goals and three points, captain Sam Steel (Anaheim Ducks) added a pair of assists and the Regina Pats defeated the Moose Jaw Warriors for the first time in five meetings this season.
Jayden Halbgewachs’ (San Jose Sharks) league-leading 54th goal of the season was the only goal of the first, but the Pats roared back with goals from Nick Henry (Colorado Avalanche) and Jesse Gabrielle (Boston Bruins) to take the lead in the second, though a late goal from Vince Loschiavo would keep things tied after 40 minutes.
Needing to score some points in the standings, the Pats came to play in the third as Emil Oksanen and Mahura’s goals came in a 3:35 span to amass a three-goal lead that the Warriors could not erase. Justin Almeida’s 31st of the season came on a late power play, bringing the Warriors within a pair of goals.
Max Paddock stopped 25 of 28 shots to stop the Warriors in their tracks, ending their winning streak at four games. Brody Willms stopped 31 of 36 shots in the loss.
Warriors captain Brett Howden (Tampa Bay Lightning) had three assists and defenceman Kale Clague (Los Angeles Kings) had a pair of helpers in the loss.
Libor Hajek (Tampa Bay Lightning), Jake Leschyshyn (Vegas Golden Knights), Cameron Hebig (Edmonton Oilers), and Cale Fleury (Montreal Canadiens) also picked up helpers for the Pats.
RECAP: Big third pushes Pats past Warriors Friday. Details here: https://t.co/psC4Q8Lxii#JoinTheRegiment pic.twitter.com/1aO25d0zB0
— Regina Pats (@WHLPats) February 17, 2018
Brandon Wheat Kings (2) at Prince Albert Raiders (5)
Brandon (30-22-3-2) // Prince Albert (23-23-9-2)
The Prince Albert Raiders needed a win Friday to boost their playoff hopes and got there on the strength of a three-goal third period.
Kody McDonald had a goal and an assist, Parker Kelly (Ottawa Senators) had a pair of assists, and five different Raiders scored as the Raiders picked up win 23 on the season.
Brett Leason and Regan Nagy scored to give the Raiders a 2-0 lead in the first period, but Schael Higson responded later on, keeping the Raiders’ lead at one after 20 minutes.
Zack Hayes and Ty Lewis (Colorado Avalanche) traded goals in a 23-second span early in the third to keep it a one-goal game, but the Raiders would go on to receive goals from Vojtech Budik (Buffalo Sabres) and McDonald to close out the game. Six other Raiders collected an assist in the game.
Curtis Meger secured his seventh victory of the season, stopping 18 of 20 shots. Logan Thompson stopped 34 of 39 shots in the loss.
Raiders win! 5-2 is the final!
Shots 39-20 for us. Rematch tomorrow night in Brandon.
— Prince Albert Raiders (@PARaidersHockey) February 17, 2018
Medicine Hat Tigers (2) at Swift Current Broncos (6)
Medicine Hat (28-24-7-0) // Swift Current (42-13-3-1)
Broncos’ captain Glenn Gawdin (Calgary Flames) reached the 50-goal plateau for the first time in his WHL career, Aleksi Heponiemi (Florida Panthers) became the second Bronco to reach 100 points this season and the Swift Current Broncos closed the gap on the Moose Jaw Warriors in the East Division.
Beck Malentstyn also added a pair of goals and Giorgio Estephan had a goal and two assists as the Broncos offence overpowered the Central Division leaders for another home victory in Speedy Creek.
Ryan Jevne and Henry Rybinski scored in the third for the Tigers, but it wasn’t enough as Stuart Skinner (Edmonton Oilers) made 37 saves for win 25 of the season and the 99th of his WHL career.
Gawdin and Tyler Steenbergen (Arizona Coyotes) each finished with a goal and an assist while Matteo Gennaro notched his 36th goal of the season in the victory.
Michael Bullion made nine saves to start the game before giving way to the recently called-up Kaedan Lane, who stopped all 19 shots sent his way in his WHL debut.
#SCB protect home ice, win 10th straight at @InnovationCU i-Plex with strong 6-2 victory over @tigershockey! #OurTeamOurTown
— Swift Current Broncos (@SCBroncos) February 17, 2018
Saskatoon Blades (4) at Lethbridge Hurricanes (5)
Saskatoon (29-27-2-1) // Lethbridge (27-24-6-0)
The Lethbridge Hurricanes started strong with a four-goal first period then hung on to the lead as the Saskatoon Blades roared back in the third, ending up with the one-goal victory Friday at home.
Matthew Stanley had a pair of goals and three points, Dylan Cozens added a goal and an assist and Logan Flodell made 35 saves to pick up the victory.
Lethbridge was on Saskatoon right from the opening face-off, kickstarted by a goal 18 seconds in from captain Jordy Bellerive (Pittsburgh Penguins). Cozens, Stanley, and Calen Addison also scored to give the Hurricanes four goals in a 4:44 span in the first 5:02 of the game.
Logan Christensen and Evan Fiala would cut the Hurricanes’ lead to two by end of the opening period, followed by Eric Florchuk’s 12th of the season 47 seconds into the third to cut the lead down to one.
Stanley’s second of the game came at the right moment though as he scored minutes later to restore the two-goal lead. Braylon Shmyr would add a last-minute goal but there wasn’t enough time left to take a serious stab at the tying goal.
Michael Farren had a pair of assists in the loss while Fiala added a pair of assists for the three-point game. Tyler Brown and Nolan Maier combined for 13 saves on 18 shots in the loss Friday.
The win by the Hurricanes and the loss from the Tigers brought Lethbridge to within three points of the division lead. The Blades are still mired in the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference, four points behind the Regina Pats and four points ahead of the Prince Albert Raiders.
Tonight's 3-Stars:
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Fiala (1G, 2A)
⭐️⭐️ Cozens (1G, 1A)
⭐️ Stanley (First 2G's, 1A) #WHLCanes #YQL— Lethbridge Hurricanes (@WHLHurricanes) February 17, 2018
Tri-City Americans (2) at Kootenay ICE (5)
Tri-City (29-20-7-1) // Kootenay (25-31-3-0)
Third period goals from Brett Davis (Dallas Stars) and Peyton Krebs allowed the Kootenay ICE to aid their playoff chances in the Central Division and halt the Tri-City Americans’ win streak at two games Friday night in Cranbrook, B.C.
Morgan Geekie (Carolina Hurricanes) scored twice for the Americans in the loss. Geekie scored to open the game, but goals from Gillan Kohler and Kaedan Taphorn responded for the ICE to give them a 2-1 lead. Geekie tied the game up again, but three unanswered goals from Cameron Hausinger, Davis, and Krebs put the game out of reach.
Duncan McGovern stopped 19 of 21 shots for the victory, his 12th of the season. Beck Warm had 32 saves on 37 shots in the loss.
Americans captain Michael Rasmussen (Detroit Red Wings) and Jordan Topping had the only two multi-assist games between both clubs.
Kootenay ICE Governor Greg Fettes presented a $25,000 cheque to the Canadian Mental Health Association before tonight's game.
READ >> https://t.co/BmoaT7Lzbt#ICEcountry
📸 >> @bradleydmcleod pic.twitter.com/UCtpa98Q8R
— Winnipeg ICE (@WHLWpgICE) February 17, 2018
Kelowna Rockets (2) at Kamloops Blazers (1)
Kelowna (35-18-4-1) // Kamloops (26-28-1-3)
Dillon Dube (Calgary Flames) scored twice to spoil the mood on a night when the Kamloops Blazers honoured Don Hay for recently becoming the winningest coach in WHL history.
Goals from Dube and Montana Onyebuchi were traded in a 2:43 span during the first period, but that would be all the scoring in the game until Dube scored the game-winner midway through the second.
Overlooking an early goal against, Brodan Salmond delivered a strong performance in net, making 28 saves. Dylan Ferguson (Vegas Golden Knights) stopped 25 of 27 shots in the loss.
Captain Cal Foote (Tampa Bay Lightning) had a pair of assists, while Kyle Topping and Leif Mattson had the other helpers. Devan Harrison had the lone assist for the Blazers.
The win by the Rockets helped create some separation at the top of the B.C. Division and momentarily pull them within striking distance of the Everett Silvertips for first in the Western Conference.
Time runs out on this one! Rockets beat the Blazers 2-1!
#WHLRockets #KELvsKAM🚀🐉🚀— Kelowna Rockets (@Kelowna_Rockets) February 17, 2018
Red Deer Rebels (4) at Victoria Royals (3)
Red Deer (20-26-10-3) // Victoria (34-21-3-2)
Riley Lamb was superb in net once again Friday, stopping 33 of 36 shots as the Red Deer Rebels earned their 20th victory of the season, a 4-3 win over the Victoria Royals, keeping pace in the Central Division race with the Kootenay ICE.
Mason McCarty, Brandon Cutler, Chris Douglas, and Kristian Reichel scored in the victory as the Rebels improved to 8-1-1-0 in their last 10 games.
Royals’ captain Matthew Phillips (Calgary Flames) and Reichel traded goals in the first period. McCarty and Cutler then built up a two-goal lead for the Rebels in a 2:34 span during the middle of the second, which would withstand a late second period goal from Kade Jensen.
The Royals made another attempt at some third period heroics, with Lane Zablocki (Detroit Red Wings) notching his 13th of the season to tie up the game, but a goal from Douglas minutes later made the ultimate difference.
Lamb’s sixth straight victory outshine a 23-save performance from Dean McNabb in net for the Royals.
Rebels WIN 4-3!! Chris Douglas gets the winner, final shots 36-27 VIC.
— Red Deer Rebels (@Rebelshockey) February 17, 2018
Edmonton Oil Kings (1) at Vancouver Giants (2)
Edmonton Oil Kings (17-33-5-2) // Vancouver (31-18-5-3)
A pair of first period goals powered the Vancouver Giants to a huge victory in a low-scoring affair Friday night in Langley, B.C.
Captain Tyler Benson (Edmonton Oilers) and Brayden Watts scored 2:48 apart in the first period, then withstood a second period goal from Brett Kemp to secure the victory.
David Tendeck was instrumental in the victory, making 30 saves. Josh Dechaine took the loss after making 21 saves on 23 shots.
Benson added an assist for the multi-point game while Bowen Byram picked up an assist as well. Matthew Robertson and Conner McDonald had the assists for Edmonton.
GIANTS WIN!!!@TylerBenson_17 leads the charge with a goal and an assist, David Tendeck turns aside 30 shots, and the Giants hang on to earn a 2-1 win at home against the Edmonton Oil Kings! Giants now have five straight home wins and return to action tomorrow night in Victoria. pic.twitter.com/k2esckPnoI
— Vancouver Giants (@WHLGiants) February 17, 2018
Everett Silvertips (4) at Seattle Thunderbirds (3) — OT
Everett (36-17-2-2) // Seattle (27-20-6-2)
Friday night in Kent, Wash. marked another milestone moment for goaltender Carter Hart (Philadelphia Flyers) as he became the winningest goaltender in franchise history after Bryce Kindopp score 1:56 into overtime.
Hart’s 108th victory in a Silvertips’ uniform seemed certain after 40 minutes. First period goals from Garrett Pilon (Washington Capitals) and Kevin Davis had the visiting side up 2-1 after the T-Birds responded with a goal from Matthew Wedman.
Pilon’s second of the game was the only goal of the second, giving the Silvertips a two-goal lead after 40 minutes, but Seattle would have an answer in the final frame.
Austin Strand (Los Angeles Kings) scored his 18th of the season to cut the deficit in half 72 seconds into the third and Turner Ottenbreit added his eighth of the season.
The comeback would earn the T-Birds just one point on this night though as Kindopp ending things with his 17th of the season.
Riley Sutter had a pair of assists, Davis added an assist for the multi-point game and four other players found the scoresheet by earning a single assist. Strand and Ottenbreit each finished with a goal and an assist in the contest for the lone multi-point games from Seattle’s side.
Liam Hughes held his team in the game against a strong Silvertips offence, making 38 saves on 42 shots. Hart stopped 30 of 33 for the win.
108 W's: CARTER. HART.
NEW FRANCHISE RECORD! #LetsGoTips pic.twitter.com/ZpmH7GtpvY
— Everett Silvertips (@WHLsilvertips) February 17, 2018
