The Tri-City Americans are close to taking top spot in the Western Hockey League standings thanks to a four-game winning streak.
“We’ve had really good wins this week,” said Tri-City coach Jim Hiller. “We’re in a bit of a groove.”
The Americans (19-6-0), who are in first place in the Western Conference, extended their winning streak on Saturday when they defeated the Regina Pats 6-1.
The win moved Tri-City one point behind the league-leading Kootenay Ice.
Adam Hughesman, Jordan Messier and Brendan Shinnimin each had a goal and an assist for Tri-City while Mason Wilgosh, Justin Feser and Patrick Holland added singles.
Holland also chipped in two assists.
Ricard Blidstrand scored the lone goal for the Pats (13-10-2).
Eric Comrie made 20 saves for the win while Matt Hewitt turned aside 13 of 18 shots before being relieved by Adam Beukeboom, who stopped 10 of 11 shots.
Tri-City went 1-for-5 on the power play as Regina failed to score on five opportunities with the man advantage.
Elsewhere in the WHL, it was: Moose Jaw 4, Brandon 3; Calgary 8, Prince Albert 2; Vancouver 4, Saskatoon 1; Edmonton 5, Lethbridge 2; Medicine Hat 4, Red Deer 1; Kamloops 8, Seattle 2; Swift Current 3, Everett 1; Kelowna 6, Victoria 5 and Prince George 5, Spokane 4.
At Kennewick, Wash., Hughesman opened the scoring with a power-play goal at 4:46 of the first period, giving the Americans a 1-0 lead.
Before the period was through, Messier and Holland scored less than four minutes apart to make it 3-0 after 20 minutes of play.
Blidstrand got Regina on the board at 16:58 of the second period, making it 3-1 Tri-City, however, Wilgosh scored 35 seconds later to restore the Americans three-goal lead.
Before the period was through, Shinnimin scored to make it 5-1 Americans.
Beukeboom replaced Hewitt in the Pats net to start the third period however Feser scored at 9:51 to make it a 6-1 final for Tri-City.
---
Warriors 4 Wheat Kings 3
At Moose Jaw, Sask., Eric Arnold scored twice lifting the Warriors (16-8-2) over Brandon (16-10-2).
---
Hitmen 8 Raiders 2
At Prince Albert, Sask., Brady Brassart scored twice and added an assist as Calgary (14-10-2) beat the Raiders (6-20-2).
---
Giants 4 Blades 1
At Saskatoon, Cain Franson scored twice to lead Vancouver (16-9-2) over the Blades (18-8-1).
---
Oil Kings 5 Hurricanes 2
At Edmonton, Michael St. Croix scored twice and assisted on two others as the Oil Kings (15-8-3) beat Lethbridge (6-20-1).
---
Tigers 4 Rebels 1
At Red Deer, Alta., Tyler Bunz made 29 saves, leading Medicine Hat (16-9-3) past the Rebels (14-7-2).
---
Blazers 8 Thunderbirds 2
At Kamloops, B.C., Brendan Ranford picked up his 200th career point as the Blazers (16-7-1) beat Seattle (10-12-1).
---
Broncos 3 Silvertips 1
At Everett, Wash., Taylor Vause scored twice and Jon Groenheyde made 32 saves, leading Swift Current (11-13-3) over the Silvertips (5-17-4).
---
Rockets 6 Royals 5
At Kelowna, B.C., Brett Bulmer scored a hat trick as the Rockets (10-12-3) defeated Victoria (11-14-1).
---
Cougars 5 Chiefs 4
At Spokane, Wash., Charles Inglis had a goal and an assist as Prince George (8-17-2) beat the Chiefs (11-7-3).