Music: {allcanada} WHL: HOLMBERG SCORES WINNER AS CHIEFS TOP AMERICANS IN OT

Friday, April 6, 2012

{allcanada} WHL: HOLMBERG SCORES WINNER AS CHIEFS TOP AMERICANS IN OT

Mitch Holmberg's starting to heat up at the right time for the Spokane Chiefs.

The 18-year-old forward scored the winner 1:06 into overtime as Spokane defeated the host Tri-City Americans 3-2 on Friday in Western Hockey League playoff action.

"I was just hoping to get a shot to the net and get a rebound," said Holmberg about his game-winning goal.

Holmberg now has seven goals in seven playoff contests and has scored in four straight games.

Mike Aviani and Darren Kramer each had a goal and an assist for the Chiefs, who are on a five-game winning streak after dropping their first two post-season contests against the Vancouver Giants, while Holmberg chipped in an assist for a two-point night as well.

Aviani now sits third in WHL playoff scoring with three goals and 13 points in seven games.

Brendan Shinnimin scored a goal and an assist for the Americans, who lost their first game of the playoffs after sweeping the Everett Silvertips in round one, and Mason Wilgosh added a single goal.

Eric Williams made 30 saves for the win while Ty Rimmer stopped 35 shots in a losing effort.

Spokane failed to score on three chances with the man advantage as Tri-City went 1 for 7.

The Chiefs now lead the second-round series 1-0 with Game 2 scheduled for this Saturday in Kennewick at the Toyota Center.

Elsewhere in the WHL, it was: Edmonton 2, Brandon 1; Moose Jaw 2, Medicine Hat 1 and Portland 5, Kamloops 3.

At Kennewick, Wash., Shinnimin opened the scoring, on the power play, 8:05 into the first period to give the Americans a 1-0 lead.

Aviani tied the game at 16:22 of the second period.

Kramer gave the Chiefs a 2-1 lead 2:39 into the third period, however Wilgosh tied it up at 14:34 to eventually force overtime.

Holmberg decided the game with Spokane's first shot in extra time at 1:06.

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Oil Kings 2 Wheat Kings 1

At Edmonton, Laurent Brossoit stopped 28 shots and Dylan Wruck scored the winner on the power play as the Oil Kings edged Brandon for a 1-0 series lead.

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Warriors 2 Tigers 1

At Moose Jaw, Sask., Joel Edmunson scored twice, earning the game's first star, as the Warriors took Game 1 in their second-round matchup against Medicine Hat.

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Winterhawks 5 Blazers 3

At Portland, Ore., Ty Rattie, Brad Ross and Sven Bartschi combined for five goals and 10 points as the Winterhawks defeated Kamloops for a 1-0 series lead.