Welcome to the daily WHL playoff recap focusing on the Western Conference. Here is a look back at the day that was:
Vancouver Giants (6) vs Everett Silvertips (3)
The Vancouver Giants made history by becoming the first ever eight seed to defeat and number one seed in WHL playoffs. The two teams were separated by 47 points in the regular season but that didn’t stop the Giants from pulling off the upset in Game 6 winning 6-3 and taking the series 4-2. Jesper Vikman made 22 saves in the win while Braden Holt stopped 32 of 38 shots for Everett.
The Giants jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first thanks to goals from Connor Horning, Alex Cotton and Mazden Leslie. Everett was able to get one back in the second thanks to a Ben Hemmerling goal before Zack Ostapchuk scored to make it 4-1 going into the third. Everett made it interesting thanks to Ryan Hofer’s sixth of the series but Vancouver added two insurance markers to finish off the game. The first was by Damian Palmieri followed by Adam Hall’s seventh. Johnny Lambos of Everett scored late but the Giants skated away with a 6-3 victory.
This series had everything. Goals, a late game timeout in a blowout, line brawls and of course a historic shutout by Vikman. The Giants will look to continue their run against the number two seed Kamloops Blazers. Series gets going Friday night in Kamloops.