A night of tricks

THE CANADIAN PRESS

A pair of hat tricks highlighted an explosive offensive performance for the Edmonton Oil Kings.

T.J. Foster and Tyler Maxwell scored three apiece to lead the Oil Kings past the Calgary Hitmen 9-5 in Western Hockey League action Wednesday.

Stephane Legault, Tristan Sieben and Rhett Rachinski also scored for the Eastern Conference-leading Oil Kings (36-12-6), who have won three straight games and four of their past five.

Martin Gernat, Dylan Wruck and Michael St. Croix each had two assists for Edmonton.

Brady Brassart, Jimmy Bubnick and Brock Sutherland each had a goal and an assist for the Hitmen (32-20-3), who have lost two straight games and three of their past four. Victor Rask also scored for Calgary.

Elsewhere in the WHL it was: Brandon 3, Regina 2; Saskatoon 4, Swift Current 3 (SO); Moose Jaw 5, Lethbridge 3; Red Deer 4, Prince Albert 0; Kamloops 5, Tri City 1; Seattle 2, Kelowna 0; and Everett 3, Victoria 2.

At Edmonton, the Oil Kings led 2-1 after the first period and 7-3 after the second.

Goals by Rask and Bubnick tied the game for Calgary at 3-3, but Maxwell scored twice and Edmonton ran away with four unanswered goals in the second.

Edmonton netminder Laurent Brossoit made 19 saves to record his 31th win of the season.

Chris Driedger started in net for Calgary and stopped 17-of-24 shots before being replaced by Brandon Glover after Edmonton's seventh goal of the game late in the second period. Glover made six saves in a relief appearance.

The Oil Kings went 1-for-3 with the man advantage, while killing off all three power-play opportunities awarded to the Hitmen.

Wheat Kings 3, Pats 2

At Regina, Michael Ferland scored two goals to rally Brandon (27-25-3) past the Pats (27-22-6).

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Blades 4, Broncos 3 (SO)

At Saskatoon, Brent Benson scored the shootout winner to help the Blades (33-20-1) edge Swift Current (20-29-6).

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Warriors 5, Hurricanes 3

At Lethbridge, Alta., Quinton Howden had three goals and an assist to lead Moose Jaw (33-15-6) past the Hurricanes (21-34-1).

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Rebels 4, Raiders 0

At Red Deer, Alta., Alex Petrovic scored twice and Deven Dubyk stopped 17 shots to post his first shutout of the season as the Rebels (24-24-5) blanked Prince Albert (18-33-3).

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Blazers 5, Americans 1

At Kamloops, B.C., Brendan Ranford scored two goals as the Blazers (38-12-4) cruised by Tri-City (37-13-2).

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Silvertips 3, Royals 2

At Victoria, Ryan Harrison's two goals paced Everett (13-31-9) to a win over the Royals (17-32-6).

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Thunderbirds 2, Rockets 0

At Kelowna, B.C., Calvin Pickard made 32 saves to help Seattle (19-32-2) snap a six-game skid against the Rockets (24-24-6).