WHL Roundup: A look at Saturday's games

With his team battling for first place in the Western Conference standings, Tri-City Americans coach Jim Hiller is happy to win games anyway possible.

Adam Hughesman had two goals and two assists as the Americans defeated the visiting Victoria Royals 6-3 on Saturday in Western Hockey League action.

"Every game the rest of the way is going to be tough," said Hiller, who picked up his 200th WHL coaching victory. "At the end of the night, I'm satisfied if we win."

Tri-City currently sits two points behind the Kamloops Blazers for top spot in the Western Conference, but they have two games in hand.

Brendan Shinnimin had a goal and three assists for the Americans (37-12-2), Sam Grist scored a goal and an assist while Zachary Yuen and Jesse Mychan chipped in single goals.

Brandon Magee, Jamie Crooks and Jesse Zgraggen each scored for the Royals (17-31-6).

Ty Rimmer made 32 saves for the win as Keith Hamilton allowed all six goals on 36 shots before being pulled in the third period.

Jared Rathjen stopped all seven shots he faced in relief.

Tri-City went 1 for 4 on the power play while Victoria failed to score on six opportunities with the man advantage.

Elsewhere in the WHL, it was: Moose Jaw 7, Prince Albert 2; Lethbridge 3, Regina 2; Brandon Swift Current; Medicine Hat 7, Saskatoon 2; Kootenay 4, Spokane 2; Calgary 6, Red Deer 2; Vancouver Portland; Kelowna 4, Prince George 1 and Kamloops 3, Seattle 1.

At Kennewick, Wash., After a scoreless first period, Crooks and Magee scored early in the second to give the Royals a two-goal lead.

The Americans responded with three straight goals for a 3-2 advantage after 40 minutes of play.

Grist scored first at 11:59, then Yuen and Shinnimin scored 26 seconds apart with less than three minutes to play in the period.

Mychan scored 43 seconds into the third and Hughesman added two more at 2:39 and 5:42 for a 6-2 lead.

Zgraggen added one more for Victoria at 18:29.

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Warriors 7 Raiders 2

At Moose Jaw, Sask., Quinton Howden scored three times and set up one more as the Warriors (32-15-6) defeated Prince Albert (18-32-3).

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Hurricanes 3 Pats 2

At Regina, Damien Ketlo made 45 saves, earning the game's first star, and Brady Ramsay and Nick Buonassisi had a goal and an assist each as Lethbridge (21-33-1) edged the Pats (27-21-6).

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Wheat Kings 6 Broncos 3

At Swift Current, Sask., Mark Stone scored twice and added three assists, moving him into second place in league scoring, as Brandon (26-25-3) doubled up the Broncos (20-29-5).

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Tigers 7 Blades 2

At Saskatoon, Hunter Shinkaruk scored three times and added an assist as Medicine Hat (32-18-4) snapped the Blades' (32-20-1) three-game winning streak.

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Ice 4 Chiefs 2

At Cranbrook, B.C., Dylen McKinlay scored three times and Jesse Ismond chipped in with three assists as Kootenay (29-15-8) beat Spokane (29-16-7).

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Hitmen 6 Rebels 2

At Red Deer, Alta., Jimmy Bubnick scored twice and added three assists as Calgary (32-18-3) defeated the Rebels (23-24-5).

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Giants 3 Winterhawks 2

At Portland, Ore., Marek Tvrdon scored twice and Adam Morrison made 47 saves as Vancouver (31-19-3) halted the Winterhawks (34-15-3) 19-game home-ice winning streak.

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Rockets 4 Cougars 1

At Prince George, B.C., Shane McColgan scored a goal and set up two more as Kelowna (24-23-6) handed the Cougars (16-34-2) their third straight loss.

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Blazers 3 Thunderbirds 1

At Kent, Wash., Cam Lanigan made 38 saves and Brendan Ranford had a goal and an assist as Kamloops (37-12-4) defeated Seattle (18-31-2), who have now dropped five gamesin a row.