WHL Morning Skate: April 30

NEED TO KNOW

– Projected 2026 NHL first-round pick Daxon Rudolph’s four-point night has tied him for the WHL Playoff scoring lead

– Game 3 overtime goal-scorer Liam Ruck (NHL CSS: 20) did not suit up for Medicine Hat in Game 4

– The Eastern Conference Championship will shift to the Art Hauser Centre in Prince Albert for Game 5 on Friday night

TOP PERFORMER

Daximum effort, Daximum results. Lacombe, Alta.’s Daxon Rudolph made quick work of a powerplay opportunity in the first period as he sliced a long shot from the point high glove side on Jordan Switzer. The 6-foot-2, 202-pound defender came back for more just 25 seconds into the second period as he flew up the centre of the ice and wristed a shot to the same spot from the slot. Rudolph picked up two assists to ensure the win and mark his first four-point playoff game. The 18-year-old owns eight goals (including three game-winners) and 11 assists for 19 points in 13 playoff games. Not only does he lead all defencemen in goals and points, he’s also tied with Everett Silvertips forward Matias Vanhanen (NHL CSS: 54) for the playoff points lead. Rudolph has only been held off the scoresheet three times in the playoffs and has five multi-point games under his belt. Rudolph is ranked fifth among all North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting in the agency’s final list ahead of the 2026 NHL Draft.

RESULTS

Prince Albert 6, Medicine Hat 3

Series tied 2-2

After suffering a 2-1 overtime loss in Game 3, the Prince Albert Raiders got one back on the road thanks to a tremendous second period and efficient work on the man advantage. After Rudolph’s game-opening powerplay goal, Evan Smith doubled the lead with another long shot through traffic less than two minutes later. The goals came fast and furious as 2027 NHL Draft-eligible Shaeffer Gordon-Carroll cut the deficit in half eight seconds later with a deceptive one-timer from the slot that beat Michal Orsulak (NHL CSS: 2) five-hole. Rudolph bagged his second goal of the night just 25 seconds into the second period with another powerplay goal off a rush. Raiders veteran Aiden Oiring was next on the board as he tapped home a rebound on the back door, with his sixth goal of the postseason standing as the game-winner. Rudolph teed up Maddix McCagherty for an insurance marker as he lofted a pass through the blue paint for a wide-open McCagherty. Twenty-year-old Ethan Neutens got one back for the Tigers to make it 5-2 as he one-timed a puck that took a wild bounce off the corner boards. San Jose Sharks prospect Max Heise did the work himself on a third-period two-on-one for his third playoff goal before Gordon-Carroll closed out the scoring with a tip on a Dayton Reschny point shot. Prince Albert went 2/5 on the powerplay, while Medicine Hat failed to convert on its single man-advantage.

THREE STARS

1- Daxon Rudolph, PA

– 2G-2A

2- Michal Orsulak

– 23 saves, .885 save percentage

3- Shaeffer Gordon-Carroll

– 2G