WHL Roundup: Blomqvist scores winner as Royals extend win streak to six games

KELOWNA, B.C. - Axel Blomqvist scored the winner at 16:40 of the third period as the Victoria Royals edged the Kelowna Rockets 3-2 on Tuesday in Western Hockey League action.

Brandon Magee and Ryan Gagnon also scored for the Royals (48-17-4), who extended their win streak to six games.

Tanner Wishnowski scored his first-career WHL goal for the Western-Conference leading Rockets (54-11-4) and Cole Linaker had the other.

Victoria's Patrik Polivka made 34 saves for the win as Kelowna's Jordon Cooke stopped 33-of-36 shots in defeat.

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WHEAT KINGS 8 BLADES 5

BRANDON — Richard Nejezchleb and Ryan Pulock each had a goal and two assists as the Wheat Kings avoided a fifth straight loss by downing Saskatoon.

Rene Hunter, Jesse Gabriel, Rihards Bukarts, John Quenneville, Braylon Shmyr and Tim McGauley also scored for Brandon (32-29-9) and Ryan Pilon had three assists.

David Nemecek, Cameron Hebig, Cory Millette, Ryan Graham and Chase Clayton supplied the scoring for the Blades (16-48-5), who are on a nine-game slide.

Jordan Papirny made 41 saves for the Wheat Kings. Troy Trombley allowed five goals on 20 shots before giving way to Brandon Kegler, who stopped 19-of-22 shots in 38 minutes of relief for Saskatoon.

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HITMEN 5 HURRICANES 3

CALGARY — Adam Tambellini had a goal and an assist and Chris Driedger stopped 24 shots as the Hitmen handed Lethbridge its 12th loss in a row.

Kenton Helgesen, Alex Roach, Jake Virtanen and Travis Sanheim also scored for Calgary (46-17-7) while Brady Brassart had three assists.

Riley Sheen scored twice for the Hurricanes (12-53-5) and Tyler Wong added the other.

In just his second appearance of the season Lethbridge's Stuart Skinner turned aside 39-of-44 shots in defeat.

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OIL KINGS 1 ICE 0

EDMONTON — Henrik Samuelsson scored the game's only goal 15 seconds into the second period as the Oil Kings blanked Kootenay.

Tristan Jarry made 20 saves for Edmonton (48-18-3), which maintained top spot in the Eastern Conference with the victory.

Mackenzie Skapski turned away 29-of-30 shots for the Ice (39-26-4).

The Oil Kings went 0 for 1 on the power play while Kootenay failed to score on three chances with the man advantage.

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WARRIORS 6 RAIDERS 3

MOOSE JAW, Sask. — Jesse Forsberg, Tanner Eberle and Jack Rodewald each had a pair of goals as the Warriors doubled up Prince Albert.

Brayden Point chipped in with three assists for Moose Jaw (21-40-9) while Zach Sawchenko made 26 saves for the victory.

Collin Valcourt, Leon Draisaitl and Josh Morrissey scored for the Raiders (33-31-5), who had their four-game win streak halted, and Nick McBride stopped 31-of-36 shots in a losing cause.

Prince Albert and Red Deer are tied for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The Raiders, however, fall to ninth because of the tie-breaker.

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WINTERHAWKS 3 AMERICANS 2 (OT)

PORTLAND, Ore.— Brendan Leipsic scored 30 seconds into extra time as the Winterhawks slipped past Tri-City.

Mathew Dumba and Taylor Leier also scored for Portland (51-13-5), which won its fourth straight contest.

Parker Bowles scored both goals for the Americans (28-32-9), who dropped their fourth game in a row.

Brendan Burke made 18 saves for the Winterhawks while Tri-City's Eric Comrie stopped 46-of-49 shots in defeat.

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CHIEFS 6 THUNDERBIRDS 4

KENT, Wash. —Mike Aviani had a pair of goals as Spokane downed Seattle for its third win in a row.

Connor Chartier, Hudson Elyniuk, Dominic Zwerger and Adam Helewka also scored for the Chiefs (39-24-6) while Eric Williams made 30 saves for the win.

Ryan Gropp, Mathew Barzal, Alexander Delnov and Sam McKechnie scored for the Thunderbirds (40-23-6).

Seattle's Taran Kozun turned aside 37-of-42 shots in a losing cause.

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