The Kootenay ICE moved closer to clinching a playoff berth after a 4-1 victory over the Lethbridge Hurricanes at Western Financial Place.
Luke Philp recorded his 200th career point with a goal 1:17 into the game as the ICE fired 46 shots on goal Tuesday.
Philp's tally opened the scoring, and Kootenay took a 2-0 lead into the first intermission after an Austin Vetterl short-handed marker 12 seconds from the end of the frame.
The ICE followed up their opening 20 minutes with an 18-shot second period, but could not beat Lethbridge goaltender Jayden Sittler again until the 6:18 mark of period three on Jaedon Descheneau's 30th goal of the season.
Kootenay netminder Wyatt Hoflin turned aside 26 shots, with the lone Hurricanes goal coming late in period three on a short-handed rush from Giorgio Estephan.
Forward Tim Bozon rounded out the scoring with an empty-net goal for the ICE with 13 seconds left in the game, as Kootenay won for the fifth time in six tries against Lethbridge.
Philp, Descheneau and Vetterl each finished with a goal and an assist, while blueliner Rinat Valiev chipped in with two helpers.
With the victory, the ICE increased their point total to 72, and lead the Edmonton Oil Kings by one point for the first wild-card place in the Eastern Conference standings. Kootenay will clinch a playoff berth for the 17th consecutive season with either a win or a loss by the ninth-place Moose Jaw Warriors.
UP NEXT: the ICE play host to the Medicine Hat Tigers Friday at Western Financial Place. Game time is 7:00 pm.