WHL Playoffs Top Performer: April 16, 2024
Egor Sidorov’s career-best WHL season is pouring over into playoffs.
The Anaheim Ducks prospect netted his first-ever postseason hat trick in an 8-5 Blades win over the Red Deer Rebels.
Sidorov scored his first goal of the night just 20 seconds after Rowan Calvert put Saskatoon back on top in the first period.
The Belarusian product flew down the wing on a partial breakaway to snipe his fifth goal of the playoffs and make it 3-1 for the visiting Blades.
While his first lamp-lighter was about speed and electricity, Sidorov showed off his skill and patience in the second frame, outwaiting a bevy of Rebels defenders and chucking the puck over the shoulder of the Red Deer netminder.
Egor Sidorov shows off his skill and patience for his second goal of the night@AnaheimDucks pic.twitter.com/DJdCTBL5jn
— Saskatoon Blades (@BladesHockey) April 17, 2024
With the teams trading goals and Red Deer continually playing catchup, Sidorov finally put the match out of reach with the game-winning tally late in the second period.
He showed off his footwork as he breezed around the offensive zone before cutting toward the net and snapping the puck past the screened goaltender.
Egor playing on Easy Mode 🤯
His hat trick goal is pretty, pretty sweet @AnaheimDucks pic.twitter.com/NZUTddKAE2
— Saskatoon Blades (@BladesHockey) April 17, 2024
Saskatoon would continue to pad the score en route to an 8-5 decision.
The regular-season champion Blades now hold an intimidating 3-0 series lead and have a chance to eliminate Red Deer in Game 4 on Wednesday.
With a hat trick, Sidorov now has seven goals and two assists for nine points in eight postseason contests.
His seven goals sit second among WHL skaters, just one tally behind Tij Iginla’s eight markers.
The Blades will fight for the sweep at 7:00 p.m. MST on Wednesday, April 17 at the Peavey Mart Centrium in Red Deer, Alta.
