Wednesday's WHL Roundup

The Vancouver Giants seem to be able to win anything except a shootout.

Matthew Ius's shootout goal gave the Everett Silvertips a 4-3 victory over the Giants in Western Hockey League action Wednesday night. Ius, an 18-year-old winger from the Vancouver suburb of Ridge Meadows, was Everett's ninth shooter. It was his first career shootout winner as the Silvertips scored three times and the Giants twice in the extra session.

Kellan Tochkin's back-to-back goals in the final 3:01 of the third period helped the Silvertips erase a 3-1 deficit. Kyle Beach also scored for the Silvertips (4-4-1-0) before a dejected crowd of 5,552 at the Pacific Coliseum.

James Wright, Jon Blum and Mike Piluso scored for Vancouver (7-0-0-3) in regulation time.

The Giants suffered their second straight shootout loss, but have yet to lose in regulation time. The hosts outshot the Silvertips 40-25 while going two-for-three on the power play. Everett also had three man-advantage opportunities, but did not score on any of them.

In other WHL action Saturday, it was: Saskatoon 3 Swift Current 1; Calgary 7 Prince George 2; Regina 7 Edmonton 5; Lethbridge 3 Chilliwack 1; Kelowna 3 Prince Albert 1; and Spokane 5 Portland 2.

At Vancouver, the Giants led 1-0 after the first period and 2-0 after the second but could not hold onto the lead late in the game.

Tochkin's second goal of the game with 1:13 left in the third period forced overtime and the shootout. Standing in goaltender Tyson Sexsmith's crease, Tochkin tipped in Shane Harper's goalmouth pass.

Wright opened the scoring 10:53 into the first period as he went around Beach, a 2008 first-round draft choice of the Chicago Blackhawks, and stuffed the puck in on Everett goaltender Shayne Barrie's short side.

Blum gave the Giants a 2-0 advantage on a power play at 16:37 of the second period as he tucked in a back-door pass from Casey Pierro-Zabotel.

Beach put Everett on the scoreboard with a breakaway goal at 7:29 of the third period, reducing Vancouver's lead to 2-1.

Piluso gave the Giants a 3-1 advantage on a power play at 16:36 as he converted Evander Kane's pass from behind the net. But Tochkin pulled the Silvertips back within a goal only 23 seconds later, setting the stage for his tying goal.

Blades 3 Broncos 1

At Swift Current, Sask, rookie Burke Gallimore scored his eighth goal of the season as Saskatoon beat the Broncos for its seventh straight win.

With the win, Saskatoon (8-4-0-0) moved into a tie for first place in the East Division with Swift Current (8-3-0-0).

Travis Toomey and Stefan Elliot also scored for Saskatoon while Jordan Peddle replied for Swift Current.

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Hitmen 7 Cougars 2

At Calgary, Carson McMillan scored twice to lead the Hitmen over the Prince George.

Ian Schultz had a goal and an assist for the Hitmen (8-3-0-0), while Brett Sonne, Brendan Rowinski and Chase Schaber also scored.

Alex Poulter and Brian Matte scored for the Cougars (6-4-0-0), losers of three straight.

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Pats 7 Oil Kings 5

At Edmonton, Regina scored two goals nine seconds apart late in the third period in a victory over the Oil Kings.

Tomas Hricina scored his first two WHL goals for the Pats (5-3-1-2). Scott Doucet, Matt Strueby, Jordan Weal, Jordan Eberle and Garrett Mitchell also scored.

Brett Breitkreuz, with two, Mark Pysyk, Brent Raedeke and Robin Soudek replied for the Oil Kings (5-6-1-0).

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Hurricanes 3 Bruins 1

At Lethbridge, Alta., Brent Henke scored the winner as the Hurricanes beat Chilliwack.

Cam Braes and Mitch Fadden also scored for Lethbridge (7-3-0-0).

Randy McNaught supplied the lone goal for the Bruins (5-3-1-1).

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Rockets 3 Raiders 1

At Kelowna, B.C., Jamie Benn and Kyle St. Denis scored third-period goals as the Rockets defeated Prince Albert.

Colin Long also scored for Kelowna (6-5-0-0).

Former Rocket forward Justin Bernhardt replied for Prince Albert (6-6-0-0).

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Chiefs 5 Winter Hawks 2

At Spokane, Wash., the Chiefs scored two goals 20 seconds apart in the third period in a win over Portland.

Koper Levko, Drayson Bowman, Blake Gal, David Conrad and Mitch Wahl scored for Spokane (7-1-0-2) which has points in eight straight games.

Travis Ehrhardt and Luke Walker replied Portland (1-7-0-0) loser of six in a row.