CHL Playoff Notebook: March 27, 2019
A busy night in the Canadian Hockey League saw five teams punch their ticket to the semi-final:
Ontario Hockey League
For the first time in eight years, the Sudbury Wolves have handed their playoff opponent a four-game exit as a 4-1 final in Game 4 that included a two-point effort by defenceman Peter Stratis helped eliminate the Mississauga Steelheads.
The Ottawa 67’s have advanced to the second round after toppling the defending J. Ross Robertson Cup champion Hamilton Bulldogs in Game 4 as seven different scorers for Ottawa, including Austria-born rookie Marco Rossi, found the back of the net in the 7-2 final.
Just relentless 🤠
Rookie @marcorossi2383 gets the last touch completing a pressure packed power play all part of a big night for @Ottawa67sHockey.#OHLPlayoffs | #OTTvsHAM pic.twitter.com/tiGw4BoUkz
— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) March 28, 2019
A 5-2 victory by the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in Game 4 has put the Owen Sound Attack on the brink of elimination thanks to a three-point showing by Philadelphia Flyers prospect Morgan Frost.
Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
After finishing the regular season with just 14 wins, the Shawinigan Cataractes have already claimed their second win of the playoffs by dumping the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies by a 4-3 score in Game 4 in which draft-eligible left-wing Valentin Nussbaumer notched a trio of assists.
Gabriel Denis a marqué le but victorieux en fin de match, mercredi, pour permettre à son équipe d’égaliser la série! 🚨🙌🏼 #VivonsLeMoment #SeriesLHJMQ pic.twitter.com/Xj2RkmA5ws
— Cataractes de Shawinigan (@Cataractes_Shaw) March 28, 2019
The Rimouski Oceanic are off to the semi-final following their first playoff series win in three years as the team downed the Chicoutimi Sagueneens by a 6-3 final in Game 4, capped by a hat-trick by right winger and Calgary Flames prospect Dmitry Zavgorodniy.
A four-point night, including one goal and three assists, by right-wing Mitchell Balmas powered the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles to a 6-2 victory and a 2-2 series versus the Charlottetown Islanders.
The Gatineau Olympiques staved off elimination to the Drummondville Voltigeurs after putting together a 4-2 decision in Game 4 that saw the game’s first star Charles-Antoine Roy pot a pair of tallies.
The Moncton Wildcats evened their quarter-final series versus the Baie-Comeau Drakkar after coming away with a 3-2 victory in Game 4 in which centre Mika Cyr pocketed two goals, including the game winner midway through the final frame.
The Sherbrooke Phoenix put the stranglehold on the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada after coming away with a 6-2 victory in Game 4 that saw right-wing Alex-Olivier Voyer cap the night with one goal and two assists.
After dropping the first two contests, the Val-d’Or Foreurs have evened their series versus the Victoriaville Tigres following a 5-3 win in Game 4 thanks to a two-goal effort by centre Julien Tessier.
Western Hockey League
Kristian Roykas Marthinsen netted the game winner less than five minutes into the extra frame for a 4-3 final as the Saskatoon Blades swept the Moose Jaw Warriors, marking their first postseason series win since 2011.
The Prince Albert Raiders brought out the brooms against the Red Deer Rebels in Game 4, with 2019 NHL Draft hopeful Brett Leason scoring twice en route to the 4-1 victory.
The Portland Winterhawks will now look to avoid elimination following a 4-3 defeat to the Spokane Chiefs in Game 4 that saw freshman forward Adam Beckman pick up the overtime winner at the 4:39 mark of the extra frame.
The @spokanechiefs win in overtime for the second night in a row! @AdamBeckman9 is the hero tonight! #SPOvsPOR | #WHLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/SO7gmjEvlQ
— The WHL (@TheWHL) March 28, 2019
Tri-City Americans left-wing Parker AuCoin played the overtime hero in Game 3 to secure a 3-2 victory and help his squad pull within one in quarter-final action versus the Everett Silvertips.
A two-goal effort by Connor Zary of the Kamloops Blazers earned him first-star recognition in a 6-3 final that saw his side even their series with the Victoria Royals through four games.
The Edmonton Oil Kings came away with a 5-1 victory in Game 4 that included a two-point night by captain Trey Fix-Wolansky to tie the series versus the Medicine Hat Tigers.
Matthew Wedman‘s game winner in the final minutes of the third period sealed a 4-3 final for the Seattle Thunderbirds as his club knotted their opening-round series against the Vancouver Giants at two wins a piece.