The Winnipeg Jets and Calgary Flames are tied for the second wildcard in the NHL’s Western Conference with 89 points each. Jacob Markstrom made 34 saves including 15 in the third period as the Flames downed the Jets 3-1 at Canada Life Centre. Kyle Connor with his 31st of the season on the power play in the first period had the lone goal for Winnipeg. The Jets, who host Nashville on Saturday, have four games left. Calgary has three.
The Manitoba Junior Hockey League’s best-of-seven semifinals begin Friday night. The Portage Terriers host the Virden Oil Capitals and the Swan Valley Stampeders face the Pistons in Steinbach.
The Winnipeg Ice have advance to round two of the Western Hockey League playoffs. Matthew Savoie, Owen Pederson and Ty Nash did the goal scoring as the Ice shaded the Medicine Hat Tigers 3-2 and swept the best-of-seven Eastern Conference quarterfinal in four straight.
Sarah Nurse and Rebecca Johnston scored power play goals and Ann-Renee Desbiens made 12 saves as Canada won its preliminary round opener 4-0 over Switzerland at the World Women’s Hockey Championship in Brampton, Ontario. Natalie Spooner and Sarah Fillier also scored for the Canadians who will face the Czech Republic on Friday.
Canada’s Brad Gushue has a 6-2 round robin record at the World Men’s Curling Championship in Ottawa. Gushue, Mark Nichols, E.J. Harnden and Geoff Walker had a pair of wins Wednesday as they defeated Byeongjin Jeong of Korea 9-4 and John Shuster of the United States 9-6. Gushue will face Sixten Totzek of Germany at 8 a.m. and Bruce Mouat of Scotland at 6 p.m.