Music: {allcanada} WHL: WINTERHAWKS POLISH OFF SILVERTIPS IN FOUR GAMES

Friday, April 1, 2011

{allcanada} WHL: WINTERHAWKS POLISH OFF SILVERTIPS IN FOUR GAMES

The Portland Winterhawks scored three goals in 4:39 during the second period to beat the Everett Silvertips 6-2 and sweep their conference quarter-final in Western Hockey League action Thursday.

Portland took advantage of a second-period meltdown by Everett, with goals by Craig Cunningham, Sven Bartschi and Joe Morrow in the opening 4:39 of the period to give the Winterhawks a 5-1 lead that was never threatened.

The Winterhawks will play either Kelowna or Chilliwack in the second round. Chilliwack lost 4-2 to Spokane on Thursday and would need to overturn a 3-1 series deficit to advance.

The Red Deer Rebels also advanced, beating Edmonton 5-1 and completing a sweep of the Oil Kings.

Elsewhere, Prince Albert beat top-ranked Saskatoon 5-2 and Medicine Hat edged Brandon 5-4.

At Everett, Wash., Taylor Peters, Riley Boychuk and Brad Ross also scored for Portland, the Western Conference's top seed. Mac Carruth earned the win in goal with 31 saves.

Jari Erricson and Manraj Hayer scored for Everett. Luke Siemens made 38 saves in goal for the Silvertips.

Rebels 5 Oil Kings 1

At Edmonton, Brett Ferguson scored twice as Red Deer swept the Oil Kings.

Mathew Dumba, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Andrej Kudrna also scored for the Rebels.

Curtis Lazar replied for Edmonton.

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Chiefs 4 Bruins 2

At Spokane, Wash., the Chiefs rushed out to a three-goal first period lead and hung on to beat Chilliwack.

Steven Kuhn, Mike Aviani, Marek Kalus and Brenden Kichton scored for Spokane.

Roman Horak and Brandon Manning replied for Chilliwack.

The Chiefs took a 3-1 series lead. Game 5 is Saturday in Spokane.

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Rebels 5 Blades 2

At Prince Albert, Sask., rookie Todd Fiddler scored twice as the Raiders beat Saskatoon.

Mark McNeill added a goal and an assist for Prince Albert, while TJ Constant and Igor Revenko also scored.

Curtis Hamilton and Brayden Schenn both had a goal and an assist for Saskatoon.

With the victory the eighth-seeded Raiders evened the series 2-2. Game 5 is Saturday in Saskatoon.

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Tigers 5 Wheat Kings 4

At Winnipeg, Linden Vey scored the winning goal with 25 seconds left in the third period as Medicine Hat defeated Brandon.

Vey had two goals and two assists as the Tigers tied the best-of-seven Eastern Conference quarter-final 2-2, with Game 5 set for Saturday in Medicine Hat, Alta.

Emerson Etem had a goal and two assists, while Kale Kessy and Jace Coyle also scored for the Tigers.

Brodie Melnychuk, Tyrel Seaman, Matt MacKay and Shayne Wiebe replied for the Wheat Kings.