Andrey Makarov stopped 39 of 41 shots Tuesday as Saskatoon earned a 3-2 come-from-behind victory over Edmonton in a shootout. The second-star effort elevates Makarov to 37-17-1-3 on the year with a 2.56 GAA and .921 save%. The Blades will finish the regular season with a pair of games in Prince Albert before starting the playoffs at home on Mar. 21.
Colin Jacobs notched three assists as Prince George dropped a 6-4 decision to Spokane. The 6-foot-2 centerman has gathered 24 goals and 53 points in 63 games this season. The Cougars they are still mathematically able to catch Everett for the final Western Conference playoff spot. Both teams have three games left in their seasons with Everett holding a four-point lead in the standings. Any combination of an Everett win and a Cougars loss would eliminate Jacobs' club from post-season play.
Logan Nelson finished minus-two as Victoria was defeated by Portland 4-1. The speedy forward looked to have scored on a third-period breakaway, but video review showed that the puck did not cross the goal line. Dominic Turgeon ('14), son of former Sabres forward Pierre, notched a goal for the Winterhawks. Losers of 14 of their last 15 games, the sixth-seeded Royals will close the regular season with a pair of games versus Everett before starting their first round series with Kamloops on Mar. 22.
In Finland, Joel Armia sat out the final regular season game due to illness as Assat edged TPS 2-1. The big winger finishes the season with 19 goals, 33 points, and a plus-12 rating in 47 games. The Aces, who claim the #4 seed in the SM-Liiga playoffs, will begin post-season play on Mar. 20 versus KalPa.
