Yahoo Sports WHL Roundup: Winterhawks earn 10th win in a row by downing the Thunderbirds
KENT, Wash. - The Portland Winterhawks have put a slow start to the season behind them after earning their 10th straight victory on Friday by beating the host Seattle Thunderbirds 5-2 in Western Hockey League action.
Taylor Leier and Brendan Leipsic each scored twice for the Winterhawks (13-3-1), who opened the campaign 3-3-1, while Garret Haar added a single goal.
Nicolas Petan and Oliver Bjorkstrand had two assists apiece for Portland and are tied for second in league scoring with 34 points each in 17 games played.
The Thunderbirds (11-4-2) got goals from Justin Hickman and Jaimen Yakubowski.
Portland's Brendan Burke made 20 saves for the victory as Seattle's Justin Myles stopped 36-of-40 shots in defeat.
The Winterhawks went 2 for 4 on the power play while the Silvertips failed to score on either of their chances with the man advantage.
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RAIDERS 7 PATS 1
PRINCE ALBERT, Sask. — The Raiders connected on five power-play chances in a penalty filled matchup against Regina.
Jayden Hart and Darcy Zaharichuk each scored twice for Prince Albert (10-6-1) while Josh Morrissey had a goal and three assists.
Dylan Busenius and Leon Draistl added single goals for the Raiders and Cole Cheveldave made 28 saves for the win.
Geordie Maguire scored the lone goal for the Pats (8-9-0) as Mac Engel allowed seven goals on 29 shots in defeat.
The two clubs combined for 156 minutes in penalties, including 10 fighting majors and five misconducts.
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BRONCOS 5 BLADES 3
SASKATOON — Eetu Laurikainen made 30 saves and Swift Current scored twice on the power play to extend its win streak to three games.
Julius Honka, Colby Cave, Jay Merkley, Zac Mackay and Connor Sanvido scored for the Broncos (9-8-1) while Coda Gordon tacked on three assists.
Matt Revel had a goal and an assist for the Blades (7-9-2) as Nikita Scherbak and Brett Stovin added single goals.
Troy Trombley stopped 34-of-38 shots for Saskatoon.
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TIGERS 3 AMERICANS 2 (SO)
MEDICINE HAT, Alta. — Tommy Vannelli scored the shootout winner as the Tigers extended their win streak to four games by edging Tri-City.
Steven Owre and Logan McVeigh scored in regulation for Medicine Hat (11-3-2), who trailed 2-1 after 40 minutes.
Beau McCue and Parker Bowles supplied the offence for the Americans (8-8-2).
Marek Langhamer made 32 saves for the Tigers while Eric Comrie turned away 28-of-30 shots in defeat.
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ROCKETS 7 COUGARS 6 (SO)
PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. — Myles Bell scored twice in regulation and again in the shootout as Kelowna held on to defeat the Cougars.
Tyson Baillie also scored twice for the Rockets (10-2-2), who led 6-2 late in the second period. Justin Kirkland had a goal and two assists and Kris Schmidli scored once.
Zach Pochiro and Troy Bourke led the Prince George (7-8-4) offence with two goals apiece while Chase Witala and Jordan Tkatch each scored once.
Kelowna's Jordon Cooke earned the victory by making 34 saves. Ty Edmonds started in net for the Cougars but was pulled after giving up three goals on six shots. Brett Zarowny picked up the loss after turning away 35-of-38 shots in 61 minutes of relief.
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REBELS 2 ROYALS 1
VICTORIA — Patrik Bartosak made 42 saves as Red Deer ended its five-game winless streak by downing the Royals.
Dominik Volek had a goal and an assist for the Rebels (7-8-1) while Haydn Fleury's second-period goal stood up as the winner.
Ben Walker scored for Victoria (9-8-1), which is winless in three contests.
Patrik Polivka turned away 16-of-18 shots for the Royals.
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CHIEFS 6 GIANTS 4
VANCOUVER — Adam Helewka scored four times and Mitch Holmberg had four assists as Spokane defeated the Giants.
Mike Aviani had a goal and an assist for the Chiefs (12-5-0) while Dominic Zwerger added a single goal.
Brett Kulak, Cain Franson, Travis McEvoy and Jackson Houck scored for Vancouver (6-10-2), which had its season-high three-game win streak halted.
Spokane's Eric Williams made 23 saves for the win as Jared Rathjen turned aside 29 shots for the Giants.
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WHEAT KINGS 6 SILVERTIPS 3
EVERETT, Wash. — Brandon made Silvertip winger Dawson Leedahl pay for his checking major 35 seconds into the game by scoring three power-play goals in less than three minutes.
Jayce Hawryluk led the Wheat Kings (8-9-0) with three goals and an assist, Ryan Pulock and Rihards Bukarts each had a goal and an assist and Richard Nejezchleb scored once.
Joshua Winquist scored two goals for Everett (10-3-2) and set up Tyler Sandhu's as well.
Jordan Papirny made 35 saves for Brandon. Daniel Cotton allowed five goals on 16 shots for the Silvertips.
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