from Canadian Press
WINDSOR, Ont. – Tyler Seguin scored two goals and Matt Hackett made 46 saves as the Plymouth Whalers stunned the Windsor Spitfires 6-3, taking a 1-0 lead in their Ontario Hockey League Western Conference semifinal series.
Windsor native Brett Bellemore, Joel Gaynor and Whalers captain Chris Terry had the other goals for the Whalers, who won for the first time in five games in Windsor this season.
Dale Mitchel, with two, and Scott Timmins – with his first of the post season – had Windsor’s goals.
Mitchell opened the scoring in the game for the Spitfires on a power play when he deposited a wrist shot past Hackett.
Terry replied just 20 seconds later when he converted a pass from Matt Caria on a 2-on-1 play.
Seguin scored his first of the game before the end of the first period, putting the Whalers up 2-1 after twenty minutes of play. Game 2 is Saturday night in Plymouth
LONDON, Ont. – Nazem Kadri had two goals and three assists as the London Knights beat the Saginaw Spirit 7-3.
The Knights took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven Western Conference semifinal.
Philip McRae scored twice, Phil Varone had a goal and two assists while Jared Knight and John Carlson also scored for London.
Tyler Murovich, Mitch Fillman and Jack Combs replied for Saginaw.
Trevor Cann made 32 saves for London. Saginaw starter Edward Pasquale surrendered all seven goals on 32 shots. Anthony Peters stopped all three shots he made in relief.
Game 2 is Saturday in Saginaw.
BELLEVILLE, Ont. – Luke Pither scored his second goal of the game in overtime as the Belleville Bulls beat the Niagara IceDogs 4-3.
The Bulls took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal.
Bryan Cameron and Brandon Mashinter also scored for Belleville while Eric Tangradi added three assists.
Andrew Shaw, Mathew Sisca and Andrew Agozzino replied for the IceDogs.
Mike Murphy stopped 19 shots for Belleville while Jeremy Smith made 41 saves for Niagara.
Game 2 is Friday in St. Catharines
BRAMPTON, Ont. – Evgeny Grachev had a goal and an assist and Thomas McCollum made 21 saves for his first shutout of the post-season as the Brampton Battalion blanked the Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors 3-0 in the first game of their Ontario Hockey League Eastern Conference semifinal series.
The Battalion showed little rust despite coming out of a week-long layoff after sweeping the Peterborough Petes in the first round.
`It was a tough game and we know it’s going to be a tough series,’ said Battalion head coach Stan Butler. `Both teams competed hard but our best guys were our best players tonight.’
Battalion captain Cody Hodgson, who had two assists in the win, emphasized the importance of coming out strong right out the gate.
`This was exactly the kind of game we wanted. We came out hard right at the start and got all over them.’
Josh Day and former Owen Sound Attack forward Thomas Stajan rounded out the scoring for the Battalion.