WHL Roundup: A look at Friday's games

After struggling early to start to the season, the Prince Albert Raiders are finally playing the type of hockey that general manager Bruno Campese can be happy with.

Prince Albert improved to 7-5-0 in their last 12 games after a 3-2 shootout win over the Kelowna Rockets in Western Hockey League action Friday.

The Raiders are turning it around after winning just five of their first 25 games to start the year.

"I think our last 12 games we've played extremely well and the guys have worked extremely hard," said Campese. "They're finding ways to win and that's really important."

Michal Hlinka scored the shoot-out winner for the Raiders.

"It was a great goal," said Campese about the shoot-out winner. "He showed some real good patience and stuck with the five-hole on the goaltender. I thought he did a really great job of maintaining his patience."

Justin Maylan and McNeill scored in regulation time for Prince Albert (12-22-3).

Colton Sissons and Shane McColgan responded for Kelowna (13-16-5).

Cole Holowenko stopped 29 of 31 for the win while Jordon Cooke made 32 saves in the losing effort.

The Raiders went 0-for-3 on the power play as the Rockets scored once on three chances with the man advantage.

Elsewhere in the WHL, it was: Moose Jaw 4, Saskatoon 2; Kamloops 3, Brandon 2; Kootenay 5, Swift Current 4 (SO); Lethbridge 5, Victoria 4 (OT); Regina 3, Calgary 2; Vancouver 3, Prince George 2; Tri-City 5, Seattle 1 and Everett 6, Spokane 2.

At Prince Albert, Sask., McColgan scored 2:19 into the game to give Kelowna a 1-0 lead but Maylan's goal at 10:01 tied the game heading into the second period.

Sissons scored a power-play goal 10:21 into the second period to regain the Rockets' lead.

The lead would stick until McNeill scored at 9:18 of the third, tying the game at two and forcing overtime.

After no scoring in the extra period, Hlinka scored in the shootout to give Prince Albert the victory.

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Warriors 4 Blades 2

At Saskatoon, Luke Siemens stopped 37 shots and Brett Brooks scored the go-ahead goal late in the second period as Moose Jaw (24-9-1) defeated the Blades (20-13-1).

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Blazers 3 Wheat Kings 2

At Brandon, Man., Colin Smith’s short-handed goal 3:29 into the third period lifted Kamloops (24-9-1) over the Wheat Kings (20-14-2).

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Ice 5 Broncos 4 (SO)

At Cranbrook, B.C., Elgin Pearce scored three goals in regulation and another in the shootout as Kootenay (20-10-3) beat Swift Current (14-17-3).

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Hurricanes 5 Royals 4 (OT)

At Lethbridge, Alta., Daniel Johnston and Philip Tot each had a goal and two assists as the Hurricanes (13-22-1) edged Victoria (13-19-4) in overtime.

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Pats 3 Hitmen 2

At Calgary, Jordan Weal and Matt Marantz had a goal and an assist each to lead Regina (18-14-3) over the Hitmen (17-14-3).

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Giants 3 Cougars 2

At Prince George, B.C., Cain Franson led the way offensively for Vancouver (21-12-2) with a goal and two assists en route to defeating the Cougars (12-20-2).

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Americans 5 Thunderbirds 1

At Kennewick, Wash., Brendan Shinnimin had a four-point game with two goals and two assists to lead Tri-City (26-7-0) over Seattle (13-16-5).

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Silvertips 6 Chiefs 2

At Everett, Wash., Josh Winquist scored twice for Everett (6-21-6) as the victory over Spokane (15-10-5) snapped a 10-game losing streak.