Hitmen down Rebels 5-1 to advance to Eastern Conference final against Oil Kings

CALGARY - Zane Jones scored the game-winning goal and had an assist to lead the Calgary Hitmen to a 5-1 win over the Red Deer Rebels on Thursday in Western Hockey League playoff action.

Greg Chase also had a goal and an assist for the Hitmen, who will now face the Edmonton Oil Kings in the Eastern Conference final after wrapping up a 4-1 second-round series victory over the Rebels.

Calder Brooks, with his first-ever WHL playoff goal, also scored for Calgary, while Spencer Humphries and Elliott Peterson added empty-net goals.

Hitmen goalie Chris Driedger made 16 saves to improve his post-season record to 8-2.

Turner Elson scored his team-leading fifth goal of the post-season for Red Deer, which was back in the playoffs after a one-year absence. Patrik Bartosak made 29 saves in the Rebels net.

The Hitmen went 1 for 8 with the man advantage, while the Rebels failed to score on three power-play chances.

Calgary jumped out to a 1-0 lead on Chase's second goal of the playoffs before Elson tied up the game for Red Deer 61 seconds later.

Jones then tipped a Brooks Macek shot past Bartosak at 10:37 of the first before Brooks scored the lone goal of the second to put the Hitmen up 3-1.

Calgary rookie Jake Virtanen took a tripping penalty late in the third period to give the Rebels a chance to pull closer on the power play, but Humphries and Peterson scored short-handed empty-net goals to secure the victory for the Hitmen.