WINNIPEG — The Winnipeg Ice scored two unanswered goals in the first period and received flawless goaltending from Daniel Hauser as they defeated the visiting Saskatoon Blades 3-0 in the opening game of the Western Hockey League Eastern Conference final on Friday night.
Ben Zloty, Zack Ostapchuk and Carson Lambos scored for the Ice, who led 2-0 after the first period and 3-0 heading into the third.
The Blades, coming off a tough seven-game series with the Red Deer Rebels in which they dropped the first three games before pulling off the “reverse sweep,” were outshot 26-16.
The Blades went 0-for-4 on the power play, while the Ice went 0-for-1.
Game 2 is Saturday afternoon at Wayne Fleming Arena.
POKECHECKS: The Western Conference final between the Kamloops Blazers and Seattle Thunderbirds starts Saturday at the accesso ShowWare Center in Kent, Wash. … The Blazers are the host team for the 2023 Memorial Cup championship, which starts May 26 with the Blazers playing the QMJHL champions.