WHL Playoffs: Pats thump Hurricanes to eliminate them in five games

LETHBRIDGE, Alta. — Sam Steel had two goals and two assists as the Regina Pats eliminated the Lethbridge Hurricanes from the Western Hockey League playoffs on Friday with a 7-2 victory in Game 5.

Lane Zablocki also scored twice for Regina, which took the series 4-1. Austin Wagner had a goal and three assists while Adam Brooks added a goal and two assists. Cole Sanford had the other for the No. 7 seed Pats, who scored four times in the first period.

Tyler Wong, on the power play, and Giorgio Estephan found the back of the net for Lethbridge, which finished the regular season in second place in the Eastern Conference.

It was the Hurricanes’ first post-season appearance since 2008-09.

Tyler Brown made 23 saves for the win in net. Stuart Skinner started for Lethbridge but was pulled after turning aside 5-of-9 shots in 15:05. Jayden Sittler stopped 23 shots in relief.

Wong was later assessed a major penalty for charging in the third period which resulted in a game misconduct.

Both teams went 1 for 5 on the man advantage.

REBELS 2 HITMEN 0

CALGARY — Trevor Martin made 30 saves as Red Deer blanked the Hitmen to take a commanding 3-1 series lead in its first-round playoff matchup.

Luke Philp opened the scoring in the first with Jake DeBrusk adding the other in the second for the Rebels.

Cody Porter kicked out 30-of-32 shots in defeat for Calgary.

WARRIORS 5 RAIDERS 0

PRINCE ALBERT, Sask. — Tanner Jeannot and Dryden Hunt both struck twice and Zach Sawchenko stopped all 36 shots he faced as Moose Jaw shut out the Raiders to advance to the next round of the post-season.

Brett Howden added a power-play goal for the Warriors, who won the series 4-1.

Rylan Parenteau turned aside 26-of-31 shots for Prince Albert.

ROCKETS 4 BLAZERS 0

KELOWNA, B.C. — Rodney Southam scored a hat trick and Michael Herringer made 42 saves as the Rockets shut out Kamloops in Game 5 on their first-round WHL series.

Rourke Chartier added a power-play goal for Kelowna, which took a 3-2 advantage in the series.

Conor Ingram kicked out 24 shots in goal for the Blazers.

CHIEFS 4 ROYALS 1

VICTORIA — Keanu Yamamoto had a short-handed goal and Kailer Yamamoto had a power-play goal as Spokane forced a Game 6 with a win over the Royals.

Curtis Miske and Jacob Cardiff also scored for the Chiefs, who trail 3-2 in the quarter-final series.

Jack Walker chipped in during the first period for Victoria.

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