WHL roundup: Yager scores in OT as Warriors edge Blades 4-3

SASKATOON - Brayden Yager's goal at 12:34 of overtime lifted the visiting Moose Jaw Warriors to a 4-3 victory over the Saskatoon Blades in Friday's opening game of the Western Hockey League's Eastern Conference final series.

The Warriors led 3-2 with 90 seconds remaining in regulation time, but Egor Sidorov's second goal of the game for the Blades — scored at 18:33 of the third — tied the game and forced overtime.

Brayden Schuurman, Atley Calvert and Matthew Savoie also scored for the Warriors, who were outshot 31-26. Denton Mateychuk chipped in with two assists.

Charlie Wright also scored for the Blades, who led 1-0 after the first period. The teams were tied 2-2 heading into the third.

The Blades went 0-for-1 on the power play. The Warriors did not have a power play.

Game 2 in the best-of-seven series is Saturday at the SaskTel Centre.

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COUGARS 5 WINTERHAWKS 0

(Prince George leads best-of-seven series 1-0)

PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. — The Prince George Cougars erupted for three goals in the second period and cruised to a 5-0 victory over the visiting Portland Winterhawks in the opening game of the WHL's Western Conference final series at the CN Centre.

Terik Parascak, Bauer Dumanski, Hudson Thornton, Ondrej Becher and Koehn Ziemmer scored for the Cougars, who led 1-0 after the first period and 4-0 heading into the third.

Cougars' netminder Joshua Ravensbergen made 33 saves to record the shutout.

The Cougars outshot the Winterhawks 35-33.

Game 2 in the best-of-seven series is Saturday in Prince George.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 26, 2024.