Welcome to the daily WHL playoff recap focusing on the Eastern Conference. Here is a look back at the day that was:
Brandon Wheat Kings (1) vs Red Deer Rebels (3)
Logen Hammett opened the scoring for the Wheat Kings at the 16:01 mark in the first. But then the Red Deer Rebels power play carried the way. Liam Keeler tied it late in the second at 18:43. Then Arshdeep Bains bounced it off a Wheat Kings defender to give the Rebels the lead at 6:35 of the third. Ben King added an insurance marker at 15:26.
The difference in this series has been on the power play. The Rebels are 3 for 17 while the Wheat Kings are 0 for 17. The Rebels have also allowed just 4 goals in three games.
Chase Coward continues to shine in the Rebel net. He made 32 saves for the win. The dynamic duo of Bains and King had a goal and an assist. Bains has now scored a goal in 11 of his 12 games. Jace Weir had two assists. Ethan Kruger made 29 saves for the loss. Game 4 is tomorrow at the Westobs Place on Brandon with Red Deer claiming a 2-1 series lead.
Prince Albert Raiders (1) vs Winnipeg ICE (10)
The ICE scored four in the first and five in the second to blast the Raiders. Mikey Milne had a hat trick and one assist while Zachary Benson had two goals and two assists. Connor McClennon had a goal and three assists while Owen Pedersen and Jakin Smallwood had a goal and an assist each. Benjamin Zloty and Carson Lambos each had two assists and Daniel Hauser made 18 saves in the win. The ICE powerplay continues to be lethal. They were three for five tonight and are 7 for 12 in the series,
For the second straight game, Taikhon Chaika was pulled for the game. This time, Max Hildebrand came at the 10:30 mark of the second. The ICE scored four goals in a 3:27 mark to close the second 9-0. Chaika made 17 saves while Hildebrand made 9.
Harrison Lodewyk scored the only goal for the Raiders. The ICE can wrap up the series tomorrow at the Arts Hauser Arena in Prince Albert.
Lethbridge Hurricanes (1) vs Edmonton Oil Kings (4)
The Oil Kings peppered 17 shots in the first while Jalen Luypen had a goal and two assists to lead the Oil Kings to a 4-1 victory. Edmonton now leads their series against Lethbridge 3-0.
Luypen opened the scoring early at the 2:21 mark in the first while Kaiden Guhle and Carter Souch chipped in goals in the second to stake the Oil Kings to a 3-0 lead after two. Yegor Klevdev scored his first for the Hurricanes on the powerplay 3:18 into the third, but Dylan Guenther locked it down with a goal at 6:13.
Sebastian Cossa has made 75 saves on 77 shots in this series. This includes another 25 saves in this one. He went 105 minutes and 5 second without allowing a goal. Kaiden Guhle added an assist with his goal. Bryan Thomson continues to play well in a losing effort for the Hurricanes. He made 34 saves in a loss. The Oil Kings have out shot the Hurricanes 129-77. Game 4 is at the Enmax Centre in Lethbridge on Thursday.
Saskatoon Blades (2) vs Moose Jaw Warriors (3) (OT)
Jayden Weins got the Blades off to a great start with a powerplay goal in 3:20, but Eric Alarie tied the game at 18:15. Martin Rysavy scored his first at 4:45 into the second to give the Blades the lead 2-1 heading into the third, until Brandon Lisowsky sent the game into overtime with his third. 9:40 into OT, Cordel Larson’s shot went off of Atley Calvert and in to give the Warriors the 3-2 OT win.
Both of the Blades goals were on the powerplay on five attempts. The Warriors stars have come to play as Larson had two assists, while Lucas Brenton, Denton Mateychuk, and Jagger Firkus also chipped in with assists. Mateychuk has five assists in this series. Brayden Yager had four points while Calvert, Alarie, Firkus, Korcziakm and Larsen each had three points.
Carl Tetachuk had another strong night in goal for the Warriors. He made 27 saves for the win. Nolan Maier made 34 saves for the loss for the Blades. Game Four is tomorrow at the SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon where the Warriors can wrap up the series with a sweep.