Friday Sports: Jets Clinch, Warriors Sweep

NHL

The Winnipeg Jets are headed back to the playoffs. Gabe Vilardi had a hat trick as Winnipeg beat Calgary 5-2 Thursday night and eliminated the Flames from the wild-card race. Elsewhere in the NHL, Steven Stamkos and Nicholas Paul had two goals apiece to lift Tampa Bay to a 7-4 win over the Montreal Canadiens. And, Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 30 shots for his fifth shutout of the season in Florida’s 6-0 win over the Ottawa Senators.

There are six games in the NHL Friday night but only one features a Canadian team. The Edmonton Oilers host the Colorado Avalanche. Edmonton has 95 points and sits second in the Pacific Division but has yet to clinch a post-season berth.

WHL Playoffs (Round 1)

Denton Mateychuk scored and added an assist as the Moose Jaw Warriors downed the Brandon Wheat Kings 6-2 on Thursday to complete a four-game sweep in the first round of the Western Hockey League playoffs.

Atley Calvert, Rilen Kovacevic, Jagger Firkus, Lynden Lakovic and Matthew Savoie rounded out the attack for Moose Jaw.

Warriors goaltender Jackson Unger made 35 saves for the win.

Carter Klippenstein and Rylen Roersma replied for Brandon.

Carson Bjarnason started in net for the Wheat Kings, stopping 17-of-22 shots before he was replaced by Ethan Eskit. He stopped all 20 shots he faced.

SJHL Playoffs (Round 2)

Melfort 4 Humboldt 2 (Mustangs lead series 1-0)
Flin Flon 4 Battlefords 1 (Bombers lead series 1-0)

WORLD WOMENS HOCKEY

Canada faces Switzerland Friday afternoon (3 p-m Eastern) at the women’s hockey world championship. The Canadians have about 18 hours between games. Defender Ella Shelton scored and added two assists as Canada beat Finland 4-1 in their first game of the international tournament.

NBA

The Toronto Raptors hope to snap a 15-game losing streak Friday night when they visit the Milwaukee Bucks. It’ll be a challenge, however, as Milwaukee is second in the NBA’s Eastern Conference. The Raptors longest losing streak was 17 games during the 1997-98 season.

MLB

Yusei Kikuchi will take the mound Friday afternoon as the Toronto Blue Jays open up a three-game series in New York against the Yankees. Former Blue Jays ace Marcus Stroman will get the start for New York. The Jays are 3-4, and had Thursday off.

LPGA

Canada’s Brooke Henderson is within striking distance of advancing to the final round of the LPGA Tour’s T-Mobile Match Play. She’s 1 over after two rounds to sit in a tie for ninth at even par. The top eight golfers will advance to the Match Play finale of the event. Rose Zhang of the United States leads.

(Canadian Press)