WHL Roundup: Wyatt Hoflin’s 51-save performance lifts Kootenay over Edmonton

CRANBROOK, B.C. – Wyatt Hoflin stopped all 51 shots his way for his second shutout of the season as the Kootenay Ice blanked the Edmonton Oil Kings 2-0 on Tuesday in Western Hockey League action.

Tanner Lishchynsky and Matt Alfaro had a goal and an assist apiece for the Ice (12-52-6) while Zak Zborosky helped set up both.

The game was scoreless until 1:41 of the third period when Lishchynsky found the back of net on the power play. Alfaro doubled his team’s lead at 11:04.

Payton Lee turned away 24-of-26 shots for the Oil Kings (29-34-7), who sit in the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conferenence — two points up on Medicine Hat. Edmonton and the Tigers both have two regular-season games remaining.

Kootenay went 1 for 3 with the man advantage while the Oil Kings failed to strike on either of their opportunities.

—

WHEAT KINGS 8 BRONCOS 2

BRANDON — John Quenneville had two goals and an assist and Ivan Provorov chipped in with three helpers as the Wheat Kings handled Swift Current with ease.

Reid Duke, Tim McGauley, Stelio Mattheos and Jayce Hawryluk also scored for Brandon (46-18-6), which is 9-0-2 in its past 11 games. Jordan Papirny made 34 saves for the win.

Jamal Watson and Glenn Gawdin struck for the Broncos (24-37-9), who got a 41-save outing from Travis Child.

—

HITMEN 4 REBELS 2

RED DEER, Alta. — Jakob Stukel’s power-play goal 2:07 into the second period stood up as the winner as Calgary doubled up the Rebels.

Taylor Sanheim, Jackson Houck and Beck Malenstyn also scored for the Hitmen (40-26-4). Cody Porter stopped 19-of-21 shots for the win, but left the game midway through the second period with an undisclosed injury. Nik Amundrud played the final 29:27 and stopped all eight shots he faced.

Adam Helewka and Grayson Pawlenchuk supplied the offence for Red Deer (43-24-3). Trevor Martin turned away 28-of-31 shots in a losing cause.

—

THUNDERBIRDS 4 CHIEFS 1

KENT, Wash. — Scott Eansor scored once and set up two more as Seattle stretched its win streak to 11 games by toppling Spokane.

Turner Ottenbreit, Mathew Barzal, on a penalty shot, and Jared hauf also scored for the Thunderbirds (43-23-3). Landon Bow made 18 saves for the victory.

The Chiefs (31-29-9) got their lone goal from Matt Sosanzki. Lasse Petersen stopped 31-of-35 shots in a losing effort.

—