– Three straight third period goals propelled the Brandon Wheat Kings to a 5-2 victory over the Edmonton Oil Kings in game four of their Eastern Conference semifinal. Jens Meilleur’s shorthanded goal 6:32 into the third snapped a 2-2 tie and stood up as the game-winner while Jordan Papirny stopped 49 shots in the Wheat Kings’ net. Richard Nejezchleb had two goals and an assist for Brandon with Tim McGauley and John Quenneville also scoring for the Wheat Kings. Game five goes Friday night in Edmonton. For the full game story, visit Bruce Luebke’s blog at http://luberslounge.blogspot.ca/.
– Former Wheat Kings’ co-captain Matt Calvert and his Blue Jackets clinched their second playoff berth in franchise history with a 3-1 victory against the Stars; Patrick Sharp had the overtime winner as the Blackhawks beat the Canadiens 3-2 while the Red Wings secured a playoff spot for the 23rd straight season with a 4-3 shootout loss against the Penguins. In other action Calgary got past the LA Kings 4-3 in a shootout while the Ducks downed the Sharks 5-2
– The Vancouver Canucks are reaching into their past by naming former captain Trevor Linden as their new team president. He played 16 seasons in Vancouver and led the Canucks to the Stanley Cup final in 1994 where they lost in seven games to the New York Rangers. The Canucks are making changes after failing to make the playoffs for the first time in six years this season and it started with GM Mike Gillis getting fired.
– The Grey Cup champion Saskatchewan Roughriders have rewarded general manager Brendan Taman with a contract extension. Taman has signed a two-year deal to keep him with the club through the 2017 season. He’s held the GM title since 2010 and has now been appointed the role of vice president of football operations.
– Jonas Valanciunas led the Toronto Raptors to a 125-114 win over Philadelphia in his first game since being charged with impaired driving. He scored a career-high 26 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for the Raptors.
– Brandon Morrow struck out nine over six innings and Brett Lawrie hit a two-run homer as the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Houston Astros 7-3.
