SATURDAY SPORTS PAGE: STAMPS STUN LIONS, OVERTAKE RIDERS

VANCOUVER – The Calgary Stampeders earned a dominant 41-16 victory over the B.C. Lions Friday night at B.C. Place to hold control of their destiny for the post-season.

The Stampeders (6-11) can clinch a playoff berth if the Saskatchewan Roughriders (6-11) fall to the Toronto Argonauts on Saturday or if Calgary can defeat the Winnipeg Blue Bombers next week.

Jake Maier went 10-of-21 passing for 123 yards and two touchdowns for the Stampeders.

Post-game, Stamps head coach Dave Dickenson noted that it was a big game for the team and a first for the season, with back-to-back wins. He said “I’m happy with the score. I’m happy with how we’re improving. I don’t want to say everything’s been fixed, we’ve got a lot of areas that we know we got to be better.” The coach also credited the return of Reggie Begelton as important for the win. “Reggie’s presence means a lot to this team. He really does. He’s had a great season. He made an impact.”

As for Maier, the winning QB said “We played complimentary football.” He added, “We got one more (win) to get where we want to go.” He also echoed his coach’s praise for Begelton, who made a big play while in tight coverage at the Riders’ goal line, saying he made “a hell of a catch, which I’m sure he’s gonna be all over TSN for the next week or so.”

Calgary was in control throughout on Friday. They led 10-0 after the first quarter, 17-3 at halftime, and carried a 31-10 lead into the fourth quarter.

Looking forward, Dickenson said “Guys are feeling better, but we got to be realistic about it. We got to keep working.” Maier, again, agreed with his coach’s sentiments, “We got to make a three in a row. If you want to go where we want to go.”

NHL

Justin Danforth had a goal and an assist, backup goalie Spencer Martin stopped 36 shots to get his first win in nearly a year, and the Columbus Blue Jackets beat the Calgary Flames 3-1. Sean Kuraly and Zach Werenski also scored for the Blue Jackets, who rebounded from a 4-0 loss to Detroit on Monday. Elias Lindholm scored and Jacob Markstrom stopped 23 shots for Calgary.

Jack Hughes got his second goal of the game in overtime and added two assists to give the New Jersey Devils a 5-4 win over the New York Islanders. Dougie Hamilton, Tyler Toffoli and Luke Hughes also scored and New Jersey snapped a two-game skid. Akira Schmid stopped 27 shots for his first win of the season. Brock Nelson and Bo Horvat each scored twice as the Islanders snapped a season-opening two-game win streak.

WHL

RAIDERS 6 PATS 4

PRINCE ALBERT, Sask. – Easton Kovacs had a goal and an assist as the Prince Albert Raiders topped the Regina Pats 6-4.

Brayden Dube, Niall Crocker, Hayden Pakkala, Tyrone Sobry and Sloan Stanick also scored for Prince Albert (6-3-0-1).

Borya Valis, Cole Temple, Sam Oremba and Matteo Michels replied for Regina (7-4-1).

Elsewhere in the Dub:

KENNEWICK, Wash. – Andrew Cristall scored the shootout winner to lift the Kelowna Rockets to a 4-3 win over the Tri-City Americans on Friday.

Tij Iginla, who also scored in the shootout, Jackson Gillespie and Michael Cicek all had a goal apiece in regulation for Kelowna (5-4-1). Jari Kykkanen made 22 saves.

Lukas Dragicevic, Parker Bell, who also scored the Americans’ lone shootout goal, and Jordan Gavin replied for Tri-City (5-4-0). Lukas Matecha stopped 33-of-36 shots.

Iginla put the Rockets up 3-1 at 4:53 of the third period. But Dragicevic and Gavin scored at 11:06 and 16:15 to bring the Americans back into the game and send it to overtime.

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RAIDERS 6 PATS 4

PRINCE ALBERT, Sask. – Easton Kovacs had a goal and an assist as the Prince Albert Raiders topped the Regina Pats 6-4.

Brayden Dube, Niall Crocker, Hayden Pakkala, Tyrone Sobry and Sloan Stanick also scored for Prince Albert (6-3-0-1).

Borya Valis, Cole Temple, Sam Oremba and Matteo Michels replied for Regina (7-4-1).

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THUNDERBIRDS 3 HITMEN 2 (OT)

CALGARY – Jeremy Hanzel scored the game-winning goal 25 seconds into overtime and the Seattle Thunderbirds edged the Calgary Hitmen 3-2.

Braeden Cootes and Antonio Martorana added the others for Seattle (5-1-0).

Reese Hamilton and Oliver Tulk responded for Calgary (2-7-2).

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ROYALS 5 CHIEFS 4 (OT)

VICTORIA – Nate Misskey netted the game-winning marker at 3:09 of overtime and the Victoria Royals edged the Spokane Chiefs 5-4.

Robin Sapousek, Justin Kipkie, Dawson Pasternak and Ben Riche provided the rest of the offence for Victoria (5-5-0).

Layton Feist, Conner Roulette, Cameron Parr and Coco Armstrong scored for Spokane (4-3-1).

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SILVERTIPS 2 WHEAT KINGS 1 (OT)

EVERETT, Wash. – Austin Roest scored the game-winner at 2:39 of overtime to lift the Everett Silvertips past the Brandon Wheat Kings 2-1.

Carter Bear added the other marker for Everett (5-3-0).

Roger McQueen had the lone goal for Brandon (5-6-1).

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HURRICANES 4 REBELS 1

LETHBRIDGE, Alta. – Brayden Edwards scored twice to help power the Lethbridge Hurricanes to a 4-1 victory over the Red Deer Rebels.

Trae Wilke and Chase Pauls contributed a goal apiece for Lethbridge (7-4-1).

Kalan Lind scored for Red Deer (4-4-0-1).

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TIGERS 4 BLAZERS 0

KAMLOOPS, B.C. – Evan May earned a 25-save shutout as Medicine Hat Tigers downed the Kamloops Blazers 4-0.

Cayden Lindstrom, Brett Calhoon, Brayden Boehm and Oasiz Wiesblatt each scored a goal for Medicine Hat (7-3-1).

Jesse Sanche stopped 29-of-33 shots for Kamloops (1-7-2).

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WILD 4 GIANTS 0

WENATCHEE, Wash. – Daniel Hauser earned a 39-save shutout as Wenatchee Wild cruised past the Vancouver Giants 4-0.

Conor Geekie, Luka Shcherbyna, Briley Wood and Kenta Isogai each netted goals for Wenatchee (4-6-1).

Brett Mirwald stopped 33-of-37 shots for Vancouver (2-4-1).

MLB

Alek Thomas hit a tying, two-run homer in a three-run eighth inning, Gabriel Moreno followed with a go-ahead single and the Arizona Diamondbacks stunned the Philadelphia Phillies with a 6-5 victory in the National League Championship Series. Arizona tied the best-of-seven series at two games apiece. The Diamondbacks scored four unanswered runs between the seventh and eighth innings.

Houston Astros pitcher Bryan Abreu and manager Dusty Baker were both ejected from Game 5 of the American League Championship series. The ejections came after the reliever hit the Texas Rangers’ Adolis Garcia with a pitch in the eighth inning, triggering benches to clear two innings after the slugger’s go-ahead home run. Garcia also was ejected by the umpires during a confrontation that caused a 12-minute delay. Houston trailed 4-2 at the time but rallied for a 5-4 win and a 3-2 series lead.

NBA

The Toronto Raptors wrapped up pre-season play with a perfect 4-and-0 record. They had their full rotation with the returns of centre Jakob Poeltl and forwards Precious Achiuwa and Otto Porter Junior returned from illness and injury. However, Scottie Barnes, who scored a game-high 23 points left the 134-98 win over Washington in the third quarter with a right foot sprain.

(Canadian Press)