The Seattle Thunderbirds have captured the WHL’s Western Conference Championship for the second-straight season.

Jared Davidson had a goal and an assist as the Thunderbirds beat the Kamloops Blazers 4-2 to win the series in six games and move on to the WHL Final for the fifth time in their history.

They’ll face the Winnipeg ICE for the Ed Chynoweth Cup with the series starting on Friday in Winnipeg. The Blazers, meanwhile, will host the Memorial Cup tournament starting on May 25.

Blackhawks win 1st overall pick in draft lottery

The Chicago Blackhawks came out the big winners of the Connor Bedard sweepstakes after winning Monday’s NHL Draft Lottery.

The Blackhawks, who had the league’s third-worst record in the regular season, will have the first-overall draft pick for only the second time in their history, and first time since 2007 when they selected Patrick Kane. The team reported on Monday night that $2.5 million worth of season ticket packages were sold in the 90 minutes after the Blackhawks won the lottery.

Bedard, who led the WHL in scoring with 71 goals and 141 points, is widely expected to be the first overall pick at the NHL Draft in Nashville on June 28.

On the ice, Jonathan Marchessault scored twice in the first period to start a run of five unanswered goals as the Vegas Golden Knights routed Edmonton 5-1 to take a 2-1 lead in their series. Zach Whitecloud, Jack Eichel and Chandler Stephenson also scored for Vegas while Warren Foegle had the lone goal for the Oilers. Former Broncos goalie Stuart Skinner was pulled for Jack Campbell after allowing four goals on 23 shots.

Tonight, Carolina visits New Jersey with the Hurricanes leading 2-1, and Seattle hosts the Dallas Stars holding a 2-1 lead in their series.

Walker scores 15 off the bench to help Lakers beat Warriors

LeBron James had 21 points and Lonnie Walker came off the bench to score 15 points in the fourth quarter as the LA Lakers edged Golden State 104-101 to take a 3-1 series lead on the defending champion Warriors.

Meanwhile, the eighth-seeded Miami Heat are a win away from another upset, beating the New York Knicks 109-101 to take a 3-1 lead in their series.

In NBA playoff action tonight, Boston hosts Philadelphia and Denver hosts Phoenix with both series tied at 2-2.

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