Welcome to the daily WHL playoff recap focusing on the Western Conference. Here is a look back at the day that was:
Spokane Chiefs (0) vs Kamloops Blazers (3)
It was the Logan Stankoven show once again as the Kamloops Blazers complete the sweep of the Spokane Chiefs in Game 4. The Dallas Stars prospect leads the WHL playoffs in goals (7) and points (13). Dylan Garand made 20 saves for his second shutout of the playoffs.
For Spokane, Cooper Michaluk did everything he could to keep the Chiefs in the game, but in the end, Kamloops’s offense was to strong. He made 42 saves on 45 shots in the game and stopped 109 of 126 shots in the series. Kamloops will now play either Vancouver or Portland in the second round.
Seattle Thunderbirds (4) vs Kelowna Kelowna (3) OT
Despite giving up a two goal lead in the third, the Seattle Thunderbirds punched their ticket to the second round thanks to an overtime goal from Matthew Rempe. It was his second of the game and third of the playoffs so far.
Kelowna took the lead in the second thanks to a Max Graham power play goal before Seattle scored three times. Jared Davidson, Rempe and Jordan Gustafson made it 3-1 Seattle. Kelowna did come back with goals from Jake Lee and Gabriel Szturc before Rempe ended it in overtime. Talyn Boyko made 40 saves in the loss while Thomas Milic stopped 18 of 21 in the victory.
Davidson controlled this series putting up 11 points in the five games. He is tied for the league lead in assists with eight. Seattle now waits for their second round opponent which will be either Everett or Portland.
Vancouver Giants (11) vs Everett Silvertips (6)
The Vancouver Giants put up 11 goals on the Everett Silvertips. Let me repeat that, the eight seed Vancouver Giants put up 11 goals on the one seed Everett Silvertips. This game was crazy start to finish so let’s dive into this 17 goal Game 4.
The Giants opened the scoring in the first thanks to Adam Hall. It was the first time the Giants have scored a goal in the first period this series. Everett proceeded to score three straight and take a 3-1 lead. Jacob Wright got two in a row while Ryan Hofer added the third. Zack Ostapchuk scored at the end of the first to make it 3-2. In the second, the Giants exploded for four goals. Ty Thorpe and Alex Cotton scored to make it 4-3 before Hunter Campbell tied the game 4-4. Cotton added his second before Fabian Lysell scored to help the Giants lead 6-4 going into the third. Then the madness started.
Everett tied the game early with two goals in the first three minutes. First, Wright scored his hat-trick goal followed by Olen Zellweger to tie the game. The Giants then scored five straight in the period. Ostapchuk, Colton Langkow, Lysell, Evan Toth and Kyle Bochek scored to make the final score 11-6 for Vancouver. The two teams get right back at it tonight in Everett for Game 5 with the series tied 2-2.