Welcome to the daily WHL playoff recap focusing on the Eastern Conference. Here is a look back at the day that was:
Moose Jaw Warriors (3) vs Winnipeg ICE (5)
The Winnipeg ICE scored three goals in the second period en route to a win over the Warriors. I
n the first, Mikey Milne opened the scoring at the 16:28 mark before Jagger Firkus tied it with 3 seconds to go. Jack Finley and Owen Pedersen combined to score two goals in 35 second. Finley scored at 6:45 while Pedersen scored at 7:20. Jagger Firkus scored his second of the game to cut the lead 3-2 at 13:09, but 29 seconds later, Matthew Savoie quieted the Mosaic Place crowd with a goal that restored the two goal lead.
Cole Muir added another goal in the third. Majid Khaddoura would get the Warriors within two but no closer. Finley, Pedersen, and Milne had a goal and an assist for the ICE. For the Warriors, Firkus had two goals and one assist and Ryder Korczak had three assists. Daniel Hauser made 30 saves on 33 shots for the win. Jackson Ungar made 26 saves on 31 shots for the loss.
The ICE look to wrap up the series Friday in Winnipeg.
Red Deer Rebels (2) vs Edmonton Oil Kings (4)
Two quick goals in the opening minute of the second period and 42 shots in two periods helped wrap up the series for the Oil Kings. Jalen Luypen scored at 15:51 of the first to give the Oil Kings the 1-0 lead after one. The Oil Kings out shot the Rebels 23-6 in the period. Dylan Guenther scored eight seconds into the second period and then assisted on Carter Souch’s goal at 39 seconds to give the Oil Kings the 3-0 lead. Jhett Larson got the Rebels on the board before Guenther got his second of the period to give the Oil Kings the 4-1 lead after two. Blake Gustafson added a shorthanded goal in the third to make the final score 4-2.
Connor Ungar made 47 saves for the Rebels to take the loss. Sebastian Cossa made 18 saves for the win for the Oil Kings. Cossa is 8-0 with a 1.48 GAA, 3 shutouts and a .932 save percentage in the playoffs.
Guenther led the way with the Oil Kings with three points. Carter Souch had two points. The story of the series was the Oil Kings defence. The Oil Kings outscored the Rebels 8-6. Four of those goals were in Game 3. Two tonight. Throughout the series, the Oil Kings out shot the Rebels 180-84.
The Oil Kings await the winner of the Winnipeg ICE and Moose Jaw Warriors series.