WHL roundup: ICE tame Tigers again, lead playoff series 2-0
By The Canadian Press on April 1, 2023.
WINNIPEG – Connor McClennon scored two power-play goals and Zack Ostapchuk added a goal and assist as the Winnipeg ICE defeated the visiting Medicine Hat Tigers 5-2 on Saturday in Western Hockey League playoff action. Thanks to a 5-3 victory on Friday, the ICE now lead the first-round, best-of-seven series 2-0. Briley Wood and Matthew Savoie also scored for the ICE, who led 1-0 after the first period and 3-1 after 40 minutes. Andrew Basha and Dallon Melin scored for the Tigers. For the second consecutive game, the ICE won the special teams battle going 2-for-4 on the power play, while the Tigers went 1-for-4. Elsewhere in the WHL: — WINTERHAWKS 4 SILVERTIPS 0 Portland leads best-of-seven series 2-0 PORTLAND, Ore. – Marcus Nguyen scored twice and goaltender Jan Spunar made 23 saves as the Portland Winterhawks defeated the visiting Everett Silvertips 4-0. Jack O’Brien also scored twice for the Winterhawks, who grabbed a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. The Winterhawks won Game 1 on Friday 4-3. The Winterhawks outshot the Silvertips 32-23. — WARRIORS 5 HURRICANES 1 Moose Jaw leads best-of-seven series 2-0 MOOSE JAW, Sask. – Lucas Brenton scored twice as the Moose Jaw Warriors defeated the visiting Lethbridge Hurricanes 5-1 to grab a 2-0 lead in their first-round, best-of-seven playoff series. Ryder Korczak, Atley Calvert and Denton Mateychuk also scored for the Warriors, who won Game 1 on Friday 2-1 in double overtime. Anton Astashevich scored for the Hurricanes, who were outshot 34-22. — THUNDERBIRDS 4 ROCKETS 1 Seattle leads best-of-seven series 2-0 SEATTLE, Wash. – Jared Davidson scored once and added two assists as the Seattle Thunderbirds defeated the visiting Kelowna Rockets 4-1 to take a 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series. Dylan Guenther, Lucas Ciona and Nolan Allan also scored for the Thunderbirds, who won Game 1 on Friday 3-2. Dylan Wightman scored for the Rockets, who were outshot 48-26. — COUGARS 2 AMERICANS 1 (OT) Best-of-seven series tied 1-1 PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. – Jaxsen Wiebe scored at 4:52 of overtime as the Prince George Cougars edged the visiting Tri-City Americans 2-1 to even up their best-of-seven playoff series at a game apiece. The Americans won Game 1 on Friday 6-4. Cole Dubinsky, who assisted on the winning goal, also scored for the Cougars Saturday. Adam Mechura scored for the Americans, who were outshot 38-18. — HITMEN 2 REBELS 1 (OT) Best-of-seven series tied 1-1 RED DEER, Alta. – David Adaszynski scored at 16:42 of overtime to give the visiting Calgary Hitmen a 2-1 victory over the Red Deer Rebels. Sean Tschigerl also scored for the Hitmen, who tied the first-round, best-of-seven playoff series 1-1. The Rebels won Game 1 on Friday 3-0. Carter MacAdams chipped in with two assists. Christoffer Sedoff scored for the Rebels, who outshot the Hitmen 39-38. — BLAZERS 6 GIANTS 1 Kamloops leads best-of-seven series 2-0 KAMLOOPS, B.C. – Olen Zelleger scored once and added two assists as the Kamloops Blazers defeated the visiting Vancouver Giants 6-1 to take a 2-0 lead in their first-round, best-of-seven playoff series. Ryan Hofer, Caedan Bankier, Daylan Kuefler, Dylan Sydor and Emmitt Finnie also scored for the Blazers, who won Game 1 on Friday 8-0. Logan Stankoven chipped in with three assists. The Blazers outshot the Giants 55-26. Samuel Honzek scored a third-period power-play goal for the Giants to break the shutout bid. * This roundup was generated automatically with a CP-developed application. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 1, 2023. 47-46
