CALGARY 鈥� Frantisek Formanek's goal 46 seconds into the second period stood up as the winner Monday night as the visiting Red Deer Rebels defeated the Calgary Hitmen 4-2 in Western Hockey League playoff action.
Kai Uchacz scored twice for the Rebels, including an empty-netter with 37 seconds left in the game. Matteo Fabrizi netted a single as his Rebels grabbed a 2-1 lead in the first-round, best-of seven series.
Red Deer won Game 1 3-0, but the Hitmen bounced back with a 2-1 overtime victory in Game 2.
Carson Wetsch and Carter MacAdams scored for the Hitmen, who trailed 2-1 after the first period and 3-2 heading into the third.
The Rebels outshot the Hitmen 46-38.
Game 4 is scheduled for Wednesday night in Calgary.
Elsewhere in the WHL:
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WINTERHAWKS 6 SILVERTIPS 1
Portland leads best-of-seven series 3-0
EVERETT, Wash. 鈥� Kyle Chyzowski and James Stefan each scored twice and Josh Zakreski and Aidan Litke each chipped in with two assists as the visiting Portland Winterhawks squashed the Everett Silvertips 6-1 to take a commanding 3-0 lead in their first-round, best-of-seven playoff series.
Gabe Klassen and Nicholas Johnson also scored for the Winterhawks, who led 1-0 after the first period and 4-0 heading into the third.
Jackson Berezowski scored the Silvertips lone goal at 17:07 of the third period. The Silvertips outshot the visitors 39-24.
The Winterhawks won Game 1 4-3 and Game 2 4-0.
Game 4 is scheduled for Friday night at Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett.
POKE CHECKS: There are six WHL playoff games scheduled for Tuesday. 鈥� Winnipeg ICE netminder Daniel Hauser was named Goaltender of the Month on Monday for his superb play in March. The product of Chestermere, Alta., had a 6-1-0-0 record in seven games, along with a 2.01 goals-against average and .929 save percentage. The 19-year-old also set the ICE franchise record for wins during a regular season with 37. 鈥� Regina Pats captain Connor Bedard, who has five goals and three assists in the first two games of his team's playoff series against the Saskatoon Blades, was named the WHL's Player of the Month for March. He had 32 points, including 19 goals, during the month. The product of North Vancouver, who won the WHL scoring race with 143 points, is expected to selected first overall in this summer's N-H-L entry draft.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 3, 2023.
The Canadian Press
