WHL Morning Skate: April 17

NEED TO KNOW

-Egor Sidorov scored a hat trick to lift the Blades past the Rebels in a high-scoring affair

-Denton Mateychuk scored twice, including the game-winner, to give Moose Jaw its first series lead against Swift Current

-Prince George and Saskatoon can eliminate their opponents and advance to Round Three with wins on Wednesday night

RESULTS

Saskatoon 8, Red Deer 5

SAS leads 3-0

Credit to Red Deer, the Rebels continued to find ways to tie the game as these teams piled the pucks into the net. Eventually, Saskatoon would overtake their opponents thanks to an Egor Sidorov hat trick and a one-goal, three-assist performance by Captain Trevor Wong. This match tied Game 1 between Kelowna and Wenatchee for the highest-scoring tilt of the 2024 WHL Playoffs. The Blades can advance to the third round for the 11th time in franchise history with a win on Wednesday.

THREE STARS

1- Egor Sidorov, SAS

-3G

2- Trevor Wong, SAS

-1G, 3A, +1

3- Talon Brigley, RD

-1G, +2

Prince George 4, Kelowna 3 (OT)

PG leads 3-0

Rockets forward Ethan Neutens finally broke Joshua Ravensbergen’s shutout streak in the second period and Michael Cicek gave Kelowna its first lead of the series just 45 seconds later, but Prince George stormed back to regain the upper hand. The dynamic trio of Gabriel Szturc, Andrew Cristall and Tij Iginla combined to find a late equalizer and force overtime, but Prince George’s Matteo Danis scored his first of the playoffs in overtime to give the Cougars a commanding 3-0 series lead.

THREE STARS

1- Michael Cicek, KEL

-1G

2- Gabriel Szturc, KEL

-1G

3- Hudson Thornton, PG

-1G, 1A

Moose Jaw 5, Swift Current 3

MJ leads 2-1

Warriors Captain Denton Mateychuk has been hot all playoffs, but the fire he showed in Round One has turned into an inferno. The Columbus Blue Jackets prospect had two goals, including the game-winner, and an assist to power the Warriors past the Broncos on Tuesday night. Mateychuk has ten points (three goals, seven assists) in the series against Moose Jaw and hasn’t been held off the scoresheet once in the 2024 WHL Playoffs. The defenceman leads all skaters with 17 points and two game-winning goals.

THREE STARS

1- Denton Mateychuk MJ

-2G, 1A, +1

2- Jagger Firkus, MJ

-3A

3- Owen Pickering, SC

-1G, +1

TOP PERFORMER

The goals start coming and they don’t stop coming.

Anaheim Ducks prospect Egor Sidorov netted his first WHL playoff hat trick in Saskatoon’s big win over Red Deer.

Sidorov snagged his first goal on a partial breakaway to put the Blades up 3-1 in the first period.

He flexed his skill and patience in the second frame by weaving through the Rebels defenders to wire a shot over the shoulder of the netminder and capped the night off with a lightning-quick shot past the screened goalie to complete the hat trick.

Tonight's weather forecast: cloudy with a 100% chance of hat flurries.#FlyTogether prospect Egor Sidorov has his first career #WHLPlayoffs hat-trick!@BladesHockey | @AnaheimDucks | #FeedingtheFuture pic.twitter.com/lJZ7mKG02M

— The WHL (@TheWHL) April 17, 2024

Sidorov is now second in goals in the 2024 postseason with seven.

ON TAP