PORTLAND, Ore. — Oliver Bjorkstrand took over the league lead in scoring with a goal and four assists as the Portland Winterhawks toppled the visiting Spokane Chiefs 8-6 on Sunday in Western Hockey League action.
The 19-year-old forward has found the scoresheet in 17 straight games and has 26 goals and 47 points in the process. Bjorkstrand’s 55 goals and 108 points in 55 games puts him three points ahead of Medicine Hat’s Trevor Cox, who entered the day in top spot.
The Denmark native had a chance to add a second goal when he was awarded a penalty shot early in the second period, but was turned away by goaltender Tyson Verhelst.
Chase De Leo had a pair of goals for the Winterhawks (41-21-6), who trailed 4-0 before storming back, while Paul Bittner scored once and set up two more.
Keoni Texeira, Layne Viveiros, Keegan Iverson and Anton Cederholm rounded out the attack for Portland as Nicolas Petan tacked on three assists.
Liam Stewart led the Chiefs (34-30-4) with three goals and an assist as Adam Helewka, Riley Whittingham and Kolten Olynek added the others.
Adin Hill made 32 saves for the Winterhawks as Verhelst turned away 34-of-41 shots for Spokane, which had its three-game win streak snapped.
Portland went 2 for 6 on the power play while the Chiefs scored four times on eight chances with the man advantage.
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GIANTS 4 ROYALS 1
VICTORIA — Cody Porter made 30 saves and Thomas Foster had a goal and two helpers as Vancouver halted its nine-game losing streak by beating the Royals.
Jakob Stukel, Dmitry Osipov and Mason Geertsen also scored for the Giants (27-40-3).
Brandon Fushimi found the back of the net for Victoria (38-28-4), which lost for the first time in five outings. Justin Paulic stopped 25 shots in a losing cause.
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HITMEN 4 HURRICANES 1
CALGARY — Layne Bensmiller had a pair of goals and Adam Tambellini scored once and set up two more as the Hitmen handed Lethbridge its fifth straight loss.
Jake Virtanen also scored for Calgary (42-22-5), which got a 27-save performance from Brendan Burke.
Giorgoi Estephan scored the lone goal for the Hurricanes (20-41-8) as Stuart Skinner kicked out 42-of-45 shots in defeat.
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RAIDERS 4 TIGERS 3 (OT)
MEDICINE HAT, Alta. — Simon Stransky scored 2:27 into overtime and Rylan Parenteau stopped 35 shots as Prince Albert slipped past the Tigers.
Craig Leverton, Colton Heffley and Matteo Gennaro also struck for the Raiders (29-36-4).
Matt Bradley, Steven Owre and Chad Butcher scored for Medicine Hat (42-23-4) as Nick Schneider made 25 saves in a losing effort.
