CHL Playoff Notebook: April 26, 2019
The first team has advanced to the Western Hockey League Final following Friday playoff action:
Ontario Hockey League
The Guelph Storm stayed alive in Game 5 versus the Saginaw Spirit, coming away with a 4-0 victory in which defenceman and Edmonton Oilers prospect Dmitri Samorukov tallied a hat-trick plus one assist, while centre and Montreal Canadiens up-and-comer Nick Suzuki collected four helpers of his own. Between the pipes, netminder Anthony Popovich turned aside 20 shots to notch his second shutout this spring. The Storm will now look to even the series Sunday on home ice, with the eventual winner moving on to face the Ottawa 67’s, who swept the Oshawa Generals in the Eastern Conference Final.
Step right up @Samorukov_D 🌪@EdmontonOilers prospect scores a pretty goal to put @Storm_City on the board in Game 5.#OHLPlayoffs | #SAGvsGUE pic.twitter.com/aH0QGZOE4h
— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) April 27, 2019
Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
The Drummondville Voltigeurs staved off elimination versus the 2019 Memorial Cup presented by Kia host Halifax Mooseheads thanks to a 6-2 win in Game 5 that saw Detroit Red Wings first-round pick Joseph Veleno receive first-star recognition after he tallied two points, including the game-winning goal. Arizona Coyotes first rounder Pierre-Olivier Joseph also impressed as he collected one goal and two assists from the back end. The series resumes Sunday in Halifax, with the winner later moving on to take on the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies for the President’s Cup after the first-place club handed the Rimouski Oceanic a four-game exit in third-round action.
📹Game 5 Highlights – Voltigeurs stave off elimination with a 6-2 win at home to force Game 6 in Halifax on Sunday afternoon.
Watch-> https://t.co/kfc6Cd5G47 pic.twitter.com/vsilFOI0yA— Halifax Mooseheads (@HFXMooseheads) April 27, 2019
Western Hockey League
The Vancouver Giants will compete for the Ed Chynoweth Cup after eliminating the Spokane Chiefs in five games. The deciding victory came Friday when the Giants recorded a 3-2 win in which draft-eligible defenceman Bowen Byram impressed with another two-point effort, including a short-handed goal, to bring his playoff total to a league-leading 18 points in 15 appearances.
🎥 #WHLPlayoffs Highlight of the Night 🎥
April 26, 20192019 #NHLDraft prospect @BowenByram of @WHLGiants#WHLHoN pic.twitter.com/Z5dPqK1wc0
— The WHL (@TheWHL) April 27, 2019
The Prince Albert Raiders pushed the Edmonton Oil Kings to the brink of elimination after coming away with a tidy 4-0 victory in Game 5 that saw rookie centre Aliaksei Protas steal the show with a hat-trick while also adding an assist on a tally by Brett Leason. Raiders goaltender Ian Scott, a Toronto Maple Leafs draft pick, also dazzled in the blue paint as he stopped 24 shots to record his third shutout of the playoffs. The Raiders will now go for the series win Sunday in Edmonton.