Sunday . . .

F Mitch Wahl of the Spokane Chiefs scored his first AHL goal and added an assist Saturday, helping the visiting Abbotsford Heat to a 4-3 shootout victory over the Lake Erie Monsters. Wahl signed an ATO with the Heat after the Chiefs’ season came to an end. He was selected by the Calgary Flames second round of the NHL‘s 2008 draft. . . . The Heat will meet the Rochester Americans in the first round of the playoffs.
---
D Scott Jackson (Seattle, 2002-08) made his NHL debut Sunday night with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Jackson was recalled from the AHL’s Norfolk Admirals and played in a 3-1 victory over the florida Panthers. Jackson played 13:44, all at even strength, in his first NHL game.
———
F Jordan Eberle, who joined the AHL’s Springfield Falcons after his Regina Pats were eliminated, is continuing to find the range. He had two goals and an assist Sunday as the host Falcons beat the Manchester Monarchs, 7-3. Eberle has 14 points, including six goals, in 11 games with the Falcons. Last season, Eberle had nine points, three of them goals, in nine games with the Falcons. The Edmonton Oilers selected Eberle with the 22nd pick of the NHL’s 2008 draft.
———
F Neal Prokop of the Tri-City Americans, who suffered a broken leg during a first-round series with the Chilliwack Bruins, is recovering at his Winnipeg home. Annie Fowler of the Tri-City Herald reports that the Americans “have dedicated the remainder of their season” to Prokop. . . . Prokop, who turned 20 on Jan. 28, broke his left femur on March 23. He had surgery in Chilliwack and spent 13 days in hospital there before going home early last week.
———
The USHL’s Tri-City Storm, under former WHL player and head coach Drew Schoneck, had its season come to an end Saturday night. The Storm lost 5-2 to the host Omaha Lancers, who swept the best-of-five first-round series.
———
G David Aime (Prince Albert, Red Deer, 2005-08) has committed to attend Queen’s University in Kingston, Ont., and play for the Gaels. Aime played this season with the MJHL’s OCN Blizzard. He had a 2.58 GAA and a .911 save percentage in 60 games.
———
Gary Bettman, the NHL’s commissioner, and other lovers of the abomination knows as the shootout must be so happy today. After all, an NHL playoff spot was decided in a shootout. . . . You’ve gotta wonder how the New York Rangers feel about that? They played 82 games and, in the end, their entire season came down to Olli Jokinen against Philadelphia Flyers G Brian Boucher in a shootout. And you know who won that showdown. . . . Sure, this wouldn’t have happened had the Rangers picked up another victory or two during those 82 games. But, still, you play 82 games and at the end of the regular season it’s all decided in a shootout. . . . Somehow that just isn’t very major league-ish. . . . Oh, wait, we’re talking about the NHL here!
———
WHL PLAYOFFS
SECOND ROUND
(Best-of-7)
(x — if necessary)
(All times local)
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Calgary (1) vs. Medicine Hat (5)
(Calgary wins series 4-2)
April 2: Medicine Hat 2 at Calgary 5 (8,431)
April 4: Medicine Hat 0 at Calgary 4 (6,976)
Tuesday: Calgary 3 at Medicine Hat 4 (OT) (3,832)
Wednesday: Calgary 4 at Medicine Hat 1 (4,006)
Friday: Medicine Hat 5 at Calgary 4 (9,004)
Sunday: Calgary 3 at Medicine Hat 2 (OT) (4,006)
———
Brandon (2) vs. Saskatoon (3)
(Brandon leads series 3-2)
April 2: Brandon 6 at Saskatoon 5 (6,418)
April 3: Brandon 4 at Saskatoon 1 (5,353)
Wednesday: Saskatoon 5 at Brandon 4 (4,026)
Friday: Saskatoon 4 at Brandon 3 (4,765)
Saturday: Saskatoon 2 at Brandon 3 (4,026)
Monday: Brandon at Saskatoon, 7 p.m.
x-Wednesday: Saskatoon at Brandon, 7 p.m.
———
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Tri-City (1) vs. Kelowna (6)
(Tri-City wins series 4-1)
April 2: Kelowna 3 at Tri-City 5 (3,977)
April 3: Kelowna 4 at Tri-City 1 (3,812)
Tuesday: Tri-City 2 at Kelowna 0 (5,231)
Wednesday: Tri-City 3 at Kelowna 2 (5,368)
Friday: Kelowna 3 at Tri-City 4 (OT) (4,334)
———
Portland (5) vs. Vancouver (2)
(Vancouver leads series 3-2)
April 3: Vancouver 9 at Portland 6 (5,849)
April 4: Vancouver 7 at Portland 4 (3,757)
Wednesday: Portland 3 at Vancouver 2 (7,088)
Friday: Portland 3 at Vancouver 5 (8,828)
Saturday: Portland 5 at Vancouver 4 (6,418)
Tuesday: Vancouver at Portland (Rose Garden), 7 p.m.
x-Wednesday: Vancouver at Portland (Memorial Coliseum), 7 p.m.
---
SUNDAY:
In Medicine Hat, F Kris Foucault’s overtime goal gave the Calgary Hitmen a 3-2 victory over the Tigers. . . . Calgary, the WHL’s top team in the regular season, won the series, 4-2, and now awaits the winner of the series between the Brandon Wheat Kings and Saskatoon Blades. . . . The Eastern Conference final will open in Calgary on Friday. . . . Foucault forced OT with a goal at 17:53 of the third period and got the winner at 18:17 of the first OT period. . . . On the winner, Foucault took advantage of a communication foulup between Medicine Hat G Tyler Bunz and a defenceman. Bunz tried to play the puck to the defenceman, but the play was never completed. Foucault spun and fired the loose puck at the net and scored. . . . On the tying goal, Foucault capitalized after forcing a turnover with a heavy forecheck. . . . Foucault, who had 11 goals in 18 playoff games last season, has six goals in these playoffs. . . . F Emerson Etem got the Tigers on the board at 2:45 of the first period, only to have Calgary F Joel Broda tie it just 38 seconds later. . . . Etem scored seven playoff goals; Broda has eight. . . . After a scoreless second period, Tigers F Tristan King gave his guys the lead with a PP score just 18 seconds into the third period. . . . Calgary G Martin Jones stopped 25 shots. Bunz turned aside 43. . . . Medicine Hat was 1-for-5 on the PP; Calgary was 0-for-4. . . . Attendance was 4,006. . . . Calgary F Brandon Kozun earned one assist and moved into a tie for the WHL scoring lead with Vancouver Giants F Craig Cunningham. Each has 19 points.
———
PLAYOFF NOTES:
The Portland Winterhawks will play host to Game 6 of their series with the Vancouver Giants on Tuesday night. That game will be played in the Rose Garden. If the series goes to a Game 7, it will be played in Memorial Coliseum. Apparently, there is a basketball team in Portland and it has the Rose Garden booked for a game on Wednesday.F Mitch Wahl of the Spokane Chiefs scored his first AHL goal and added an assist Saturday, helping the visiting Abbotsford Heat to a 4-3 shootout victory over the Lake Erie Monsters. Wahl signed an ATO with the Heat after the Chiefs’ season came to an end. He was selected by the Calgary Flames second round of the NHL‘s 2008 draft. . . . The Heat will meet the Rochester Americans in the first round of the playoffs.
---
D Scott Jackson (Seattle, 2002-08) made his NHL debut Sunday night with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Jackson was recalled from the AHL’s Norfolk Admirals and played in a 3-1 victory over the Florida Panthers. Jackson played 13:44, all at even strength, in his first NHL game.
———
F Jordan Eberle, who joined the AHL’s Springfield Falcons after his Regina Pats were eliminated, is continuing to find the range. He had two goals and an assist Sunday as the host Falcons beat the Manchester Monarchs, 7-3. Eberle has 14 points, including six goals, in 11 games with the Falcons. Last season, Eberle had nine points, three of them goals, in nine games with the Falcons. The Edmonton Oilers selected Eberle with the 22nd pick of the NHL’s 2008 draft.
———
F Neal Prokop of the Tri-City Americans, who suffered a broken leg during a first-round series with the Chilliwack Bruins, is recovering at his Winnipeg home. Annie Fowler of the Tri-City Herald reports that the Americans “have dedicated the remainder of their season” to Prokop. . . . Prokop, who turned 20 on Jan. 28, broke his left femur on March 23. He had surgery in Chilliwack and spent 13 days in hospital there before going home early last week.
———
The USHL’s Tri-City Storm, under former WHL player and head coach Drew Schoneck, had its season come to an end Saturday night. The Storm lost 5-2 to the host Omaha Lancers, who swept the best-of-five first-round series.
———
G David Aime (Prince Albert, Red Deer, 2005-08) has committed to attend Queen’s University in Kingston, Ont., and play for the Gaels. Aime played this season with the MJHL’s OCN Blizzard. He had a 2.58 GAA and a .911 save percentage in 60 games.
———
Gary Bettman, the NHL’s commissioner, and other lovers of the abomination knows as the shootout must be so happy today. After all, an NHL playoff spot was decided in a shootout. . . . You’ve gotta wonder how the New York Rangers feel about that? They played 82 games and, in the end, their entire season came down to Olli Jokinen against Philadelphia Flyers G Brian Boucher in a shootout. And you know who won that showdown. . . . You really have to wonder how much money that play was worth to the two organizations involved. . . . Sure, this wouldn’t have happened had the Rangers picked up another victory or two during those 82 games. But, still, you play 82 games and at the end of the regular season it’s all decided in a shootout!!?!???. . . . Somehow that just isn’t very major league-ish. . . . Oh, wait, we’re talking about the NHL here!
———
WHL PLAYOFFS
SECOND ROUND
(Best-of-7)
(x — if necessary)
(All times local)
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Calgary (1) vs. Medicine Hat (5)
(Calgary wins series 4-2)
April 2: Medicine Hat 2 at Calgary 5 (8,431)
April 4: Medicine Hat 0 at Calgary 4 (6,976)
Tuesday: Calgary 3 at Medicine Hat 4 (OT) (3,832)
Wednesday: Calgary 4 at Medicine Hat 1 (4,006)
Friday: Medicine Hat 5 at Calgary 4 (9,004)
Sunday: Calgary 3 at Medicine Hat 2 (OT) (4,006)
———
Brandon (2) vs. Saskatoon (3)
(Brandon leads series 3-2)
April 2: Brandon 6 at Saskatoon 5 (6,418)
April 3: Brandon 4 at Saskatoon 1 (5,353)
Wednesday: Saskatoon 5 at Brandon 4 (4,026)
Friday: Saskatoon 4 at Brandon 3 (4,765)
Saturday: Saskatoon 2 at Brandon 3 (4,026)
Monday: Brandon at Saskatoon, 7 p.m.
x-Wednesday: Saskatoon at Brandon, 7 p.m.
———
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Tri-City (1) vs. Kelowna (6)
(Tri-City wins series 4-1)
April 2: Kelowna 3 at Tri-City 5 (3,977)
April 3: Kelowna 4 at Tri-City 1 (3,812)
Tuesday: Tri-City 2 at Kelowna 0 (5,231)
Wednesday: Tri-City 3 at Kelowna 2 (5,368)
Friday: Kelowna 3 at Tri-City 4 (OT) (4,334)
———
Portland (5) vs. Vancouver (2)
(Vancouver leads series 3-2)
April 3: Vancouver 9 at Portland 6 (5,849)
April 4: Vancouver 7 at Portland 4 (3,757)
Wednesday: Portland 3 at Vancouver 2 (7,088)
Friday: Portland 3 at Vancouver 5 (8,828)
Saturday: Portland 5 at Vancouver 4 (6,418)
Tuesday: Vancouver at Portland (Rose Garden), 7 p.m.
x-Wednesday: Vancouver at Portland (Memorial Coliseum), 7 p.m.
---
SUNDAY:
In Medicine Hat, F Kris Foucault’s overtime goal gave the Calgary Hitmen a 3-2 victory over the Tigers. . . . Calgary, the WHL’s top team in the regular season, won the series, 4-2, and now awaits the winner of the series between the Brandon Wheat Kings and Saskatoon Blades. . . . The Eastern Conference final will open in Calgary on Friday. . . . Foucault forced OT with a goal at 17:53 of the third period and got the winner at 18:17 of the first OT period. . . . On the winner, Foucault took advantage of a communication foulup between Medicine Hat G Tyler Bunz and a defenceman. Bunz tried to play the puck to the defenceman, but the play was never completed. Foucault spun and fired the loose puck at the net and scored. . . . On the tying goal, Foucault capitalized after forcing a turnover with a heavy forecheck. . . . Foucault, who had 11 goals in 18 playoff games last season, has six goals in these playoffs. . . . F Emerson Etem got the Tigers on the board at 2:45 of the first period, only to have Calgary F Joel Broda tie it just 38 seconds later. . . . Etem scored seven playoff goals; Broda has eight. . . . After a scoreless second period, Tigers F Tristan King gave his guys the lead with a PP score just 18 seconds into the third period. . . . Calgary G Martin Jones stopped 25 shots. Bunz turned aside 43. . . . Medicine Hat was 1-for-5 on the PP; Calgary was 0-for-4. . . . Attendance was 4,006. . . . Calgary F Brandon Kozun earned one assist and moved into a tie for the WHL scoring lead with Vancouver Giants F Craig Cunningham. Each has 19 points.
———
The Portland Winterhawks will play host to Game 6 of their series with the Vancouver Giants on Tuesday night. That game will be played in the Rose Garden. If the series goes to a Game 7, it will be played in Memorial Coliseum on Wednesday. Apparently, there is a basketball team in Portland and it has the Rose Garden booked for a game on Wednesday.