PORTLAND, Ore. — Jake Gricius scored twice as the Portland Winterhawks dumped the Vancouver Giants 5-3 on Friday in Game 1 of a home-and-home series between the Western Hockey League clubs.
Reece Newkirk struck the game-winning goal for the Winterhawks (6-3-1) at 13:39 of the third period.
Cody Glass and Ryan Hughes also scored for Portland.
James Malm, Justin Sourdif and Bowen Byram notched goals for the Giants (9-2-1), who had won two straight and had gone seven games without a regulation loss heading into the match.
Shane Farkas kicked out 22 shots for Portland. David Tendeck stopped 21 shots for Vancouver.
The Winterhawks went 2 for 5 on the power play, while the Giants were 1 for 4 with the man advantage.
Vancouver hosts Portland in the rematch on Saturday.
WHEAT KINGS 5 SILVERTIPS 2
BRANDON, Man. — Stelio Mattheos scored a hat trick and Jiri Patera turned aside 36 shots as Brandon thrashed Everett.
Lynden McCallum added two goals, including the game-winning goal for the Wheat Kings (6-1-2) at 15:00 of the second period. Sahvan Khaira and Connor Dewar scored for the Silvertips (6-4-0).
Dustin Wolf kicked out 26 shots for Everett.
The Silvertips’ Connor Dewar was given a match penalty for cross checking at 14:32 of the third period.
HITMEN 5 WARRIORS 1
MOOSE JAW, Sask. — Carl Stankowski was nearly perfect, kicking out 30 shots and Mark Kastelic scored twice as Calgary defeated Moose Jaw.
Cael Zimmerman struck the game-winning goal for the Hitmen (3-6-2) at 14:24 of the second period. Jake Kryski and Josh Prokop also found the back of the net for the Hitmen. Alek Sukunda scored for the Warriors (4-3-2).
Brodan Salmond kicked out 31 shots for Moose Jaw.
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BLADES 3 CHIEFS 2 (OT)
SASKATOON — Kirby Dach scored twice, including in overtime, as Saskatoon squeaked by Spokane.
Dach’s winner came for the Blades (8-3-1) at 0:37 of overtime. Eric Florchuk also notched a goal for the Blades. Luke Toporowski and Ty Smith scored for the Chiefs (6-2-3).
Nolan Maier turned aside 41 shots for Saskatoon. Bailey Brkin made 30 saves for Spokane.
REBELS 5 OIL KINGS 2
EDMONTON — Brandon Hagel scored four times as Red Deer topped Edmonton.
Hagel racked up the game-winning goal for the Rebels at 1:16 of the second period. Alex Morozoff also picked up a marker for the Rebels (6-3-1). Jake Neighbours and Trey Fix-Wolansky replied for the Oil Kings (5-7-1).
Ethan Anders turned away 41 shots for Red Deer. Boston Bilous kicked out 20 shots for Edmonton.
TIGERS 4 HURRICANES 3 (OT)
MEDICINE HAT, Alta. — James Hamblin scored on a penalty shot at 4:08 in overtime and added an assist as Medicine Hat overcame Lethbridge
Linus Nassen, who added two helpers, Tyler Preziuso and Ryan Jevne also scored for the Tigers (6-5-1). Noah Boyko, Jadon Joseph and Dylan Cozens answered for the Hurricanes (4-4-3).
Mads Sogaard turned aside 26 shots for Medicine Hat. Reece Klassen kicked out 20 shots for Lethbridge.
BLAZERS 5 BRONCOS 3
KAMLOOPS, B.C. — Luc Smith scored twice and had an assist as Kamloops sunk Swift Current.
Josh Pillar registered the game-winning goal for the Blazers (3-6-1) at 16:48 of the third period. Connor Zary and Zane Franklin added singles for the Blazers. Alec Zawatsky, Joona Kiviniemi and Max Patterson scored for the Broncos (1-10-0).
Dylan Ferguson turned aside 21 shots for Kamloops. Joel Hofer stopped 35 shots for Swift Current.
AMERICANS 4 THUNDERBIRDS 2
KENNEWICK, Wash. — Parker AuCoin scored twice, including the game-winner in the third period, as Tri-City doubled up Seattle.
Connor Bouchard and Kyle Olson also had markers for the Americans (5-4-0). Jake Lee and Noah Philp replied for the Thunderbirds (6-2-1).
Beck Warm kicked out 24 shots for Tri-City. Cole Schwebius turned away 22 shots for Seattle.
ROCKETS 8 ROYALS 2
VICTORIA — Nolan Foote scored twice and Liam Kindree had a goal and three assists as Kelowna thumped Victoria.
Lassi Thomson’s marker on the power play at 12:18 of the second period stood as the game-winning goal for the Rockets (3-9-0). He scored twice in the contest and had two helpers. Erik Gardiner, Kaedan Korczak and Dallon Wilton also scored for the Rockets. D-Jay Jerome and Dante Hannoun netted goals for the Royals (8-2-0).
Roman Basran turned aside 18 shots for Kelowna. Joel Grzybowski combined with Brock Gould for 24 saves for Victoria.
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