WHL playoffs: ICE one win away from eliminating Blades

SASKATOON – The visiting Winnipeg ICE scored three unanswered goals in the first period and then coasted to a 5-1 win over the Saskatoon Blades on Tuesday night to grab a commanding 3-0 lead in their Western Hockey League Eastern Conference final series.

Matthew Savoie, Zach Benson, Evan Friesen, Connor McClennon and Owen Pederson scored for the ICE, who outshot the Blades34-18. Ben Zloty chipped in with three assists and Savoie added a pair.

Justin Lies scored for the Blades, who lost the first two games in the Manitoba capital, 3-0 and 6-2.

The ICE went 2-for-6 on the power play, while the Blades were 0-for-2.

Game 4 is scheduled for Wednesday and if the ICE win they’ll be in the WHL Championship final.

Elsewhere in the WHL:

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BLAZERS 4 THUNDERBIRDS 1

(Seattle leads best-of-seven series 2-1)

KAMLOOPS, B.C. — Olen Zellweger scored once and added two assists as the Kamloops Blazers beat the visiting Seattle Thunderbirds 4-1 to trim their deficit to 2-1 in the WHL’s Western Conference final.

Jakub Demek, Ryan Hofer (empty-netter) and Matthew Seminoff also scored for the Blazers, who lost the first two games of the series in Seattle by 5-1 and 4-3 overtime decisions. Logan Stankoven chipped in with two assists.

Nolan Allan scored for the Thunderbirds, who were outshot 39-23.

Game 4 is Thursday in Kamloops.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 2, 2023.