Yahoo Sports WHL Roundup: Rockets beat Broncos to tie Winterhawks for league's best record
SWIFT CURRENT, Sask. - The Kelowna Rockets scored three unanswered goals in the third period to beat the Swift Current Broncos 4-2 in Western Hockey League action Tuesday.
Zach Franko, Tyrell Goulbourne, Colton Heffley and Ryan Olsen each scored for Kelowna (23-3-2), which won its seventh straight and moved into a tie for the league's best record with idle Portland.
Zac Mackay and Tanner LaSann replied for the Broncos (19-12-3), who missed out on a chance to move ahead of Edmonton atop the Eastern Conference.
Rockets goaltender Jordon Cooke finished with 24 saves, while Eetu Laurikainen did what he could with 40 saves for Swift Current.
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WHEAT KINGS 5 BLAZERS 2
BRANDON, Man. — Rihards Bukarts had a pair of goals for the Wheat Kings, who scored three in the second period to beat Kamloops.
Jesse Gabrielle, Peter Quenneville and Jayce Hawryluk had a goal each for Brandon (17-14-2).
Jesse Shynkaruk and Eric Krienke each scored in the second for the struggling Blazers (6-21-4).
Jordan Papirny made 31 saves in net for the Wheat Kings. At the other end of the ice, Cole Kehler stopped 26 shots.
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OIL KINGS 3 BLADES 1
SASKATOON — Cole Benson's short-handed goal lifted Edmonton past the Blades.
Henrik Samuelsson and Curtis Lazar also scored for the Eastern Conference-leading Oil Kings (20-9-1), who won their sixth straight.
Nikita Scherbak had the lone goal for Saskatoon (10-21-3).
Edmonton's Tristan Jarry stopped just 19 shots, while Troy Trombley was far busier in Saskatoon's net with 46 saves.
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HURRICANES 6 REBELS 0
LETHBRIDGE, Alta. — Tyler Wong scored twice as the league-worst Hurricanes embarrassed Red Deer.
Reid Duke, Riley Sheen, Reid Nemeth and Josh Derko each scored for Lethbridge (5-24-4), which scored twice in the first period despite being outshot 11-4.
Taz Burman started for the Rebels (14-16-2) but was pulled after allowing all six goals on 27 shots. He was replaced by Grant Naherniak, who finished with six saves.
Teagan Sacher, meanwhile, earned the shutout with 35 saves for Lethbridge.
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TIGERS 1 HITMEN 0 (OT)
MEDICINE HAT, Alta. — Logan McVeigh scored in overtime as the Tigers outlasted an intense game against Calgary.
McVeigh scored just 27 seconds into OT for Medicine Hat (19-9-3), which went the entire game without a penalty.
Tigers goaltender Daniel Wapple made 39 saves for the shutout.
Chris Driedger meanwhile stopped 33 shots in net for the Hitmen (18-7-5).
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ICE 3 COUGARS 1
PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. — Mackenzie Skapski was spectacular with 51 saves as Kootenay survived against the Cougars.
Jagger Dirk, Jaedon Descheneau and Tim Bozon each scored for the Ice (17-15-2), who were outshot in every period.
Jordan Tkatch broke Skapski's shutout bid at 13:22 in the second for Prince George (12-17-5) before the Ice scored three unanswered goals.
Cougars goalie Ty Edmonds finished with 29 saves.
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GIANTS 3 ROYALS 2
VANCOUVER — Travis McEvoy scored the winning goal in the second period to lift the Giants past Victoria.
Trent Lofthouse and Tyler Morrison also scored for Vancouver (15-12-7), which led 2-0 after the first period.
Ben Walker scored twice for the Royals (20-13-1), including once shorthanded.
Giants goalie Payton Lee made just 14 saves, while at the other end of the ice Coleman Vollrath stopped 30 shots.
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THUNDERBIRDS 3 AMERICANS 1
KENNEWICK, Wash. — Roberts Lipsbergs scored twice as Seattle beat Tri-City.
Mathew Barzal had the other goal for the Thunderbirds (19-9-4).
Lucas Nickles scored the only goal for the Americans (17-14-3).
Danny Mumaugh turned back 22 shots for Seattle. Eric Comrie meanwhile had 29 saves in net for Tri-City.
