WHL Morning Skate: April 19, 2025
NEED TO KNOW
– Spokane and Victoria’s explosive 9-6 bout is the highest-scoring game of the 2025 WHL Playoffs
– Top 2025 NHL Draft prospect Cole Reschny has taken over the WHL playoff points lead (24) with a one-goal, three-assist effort
– Calgary scored four unanswered goals, including an OT stunner from draft-eligible Ben Kindel, to put Lethbridge on the brink of elimination
– Hudson Darby’s last-minute stunner marked Portland’s third-straight win against the Everett Silvertips
– Calgary and Portland can punch their tickets to the Conference Championships with victories on Saturday night
TOP PERFORMER- APRIL 18
Slick Swede Rasmus Ekstrom deposed the Royals with a four-point night, including his first playoff hat trick. The Chiefs centreman also netted his second game-winning goal of the series after snagging the overtime winner in Game 1. Ekstrom is up to six goals and three assists for nine points in nine playoff games.
RESULTS
Portland 4, Everett 3
Portland leads 3-2
The Winterhawks started the scoring and ended the scoring in a heart-stopping road win against the Everett Silvertips to take their first lead of the second-round series. Game 4 overtime hero Josh Zakreski struck first before exceptional status defenceman Landon DuPont evened the score with a powerplay strike in the first period. Captains Kyle Chyzowski and Kaden Hammell (Seattle Kraken) traded goals in the second period to set up a winner-take-all final frame. Chyzowski, a WHL Player of the Year nominee, restored the Portland lead with his 10th goal of the playoffs before Everett tied the game for a third time, courtesy of another Kraken prospect in towering Finn Julius Miettinen. With one minute to play, veteran Hudson Darby deflected a precision pass from Tyson Jugnauth (Seattle Kraken) to stun the regular season champions. 2025 NHL Draft-eligible netminder Ondrej Stebetak made 36 saves and posted a .923 save percentage in the win. The Winterhawks will try to advance to the WHL Western Conference Championship for the second year in a row with a win on home ice on Saturday.
THREE STARS
1- Hudson Darby, POR
– 1G
2- Kyle Chyzowski, POR
– 2G
3- Landon DuPont, EVT
– 1G-1A
Spokane Chiefs 9, Victoria 6
Series tied 2-2
After a lopsided Game 3 loss to the Victoria Royals on Wednesday night, the Spokane Chiefs quickly quieted a raucous crowd at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre in B.C.’s capital. With five goals in the first period – including a four-goal burst in just over four minutes – the visitors spent most of their evening in the driver’s seat. Owen Martin, Mathis Preston, Rasmus Ekstrom, Maple Leafs prospect Nathan Mayes and Capitals prospect Andrew Cristall were in on Spokane’s first-period scoring spree. But, in typical Royals fashion, Victoria wasn’t going down without a fight. With the help of Hayden Moore, Teydon Trembecky, Brandon Lisowsky and 2025 NHL Draft top prospect Cole Reschny, the home team tried to mount a comeback by outscoring their opposition 4-2 in the third period. With the series tied at two wins apiece, the Chiefs and Royals are now set to vie for a series lead on Saturday night, when both clubs meet for Game 5.
THREE STARS
1- Rasmus Ekstrom, SPO
– 3G-1A
2- Mathis Preston, SPO
– 2G
3- Teydon Trembecky, VIC
– 2G
Lethbridge 5, Calgary 6 (OT)
Calgary leads 3-2
Coming into Game 5, the road team had won every game in the Calgary/Lethbridge series. The Hitmen were able to change their fortunes and take their first lead of the series after erasing a three-goal deficit late in the match. Nashville Predators prospect Miguel Marques opened the scoring on a swift breakaway before Ottawa Senators pick Carter Yakemchuk answered for his team with a powerful shot from the point. Vegas Golden Knight pick and draft-eligible Brandon Gorzynski also swapped leads to close out the scoring in period one. The Hurricanes seemed to have swept up the Hitmen with a near-perfect second period that saw Brayden Yager (Winnipeg Jets) bag his first goal of the series and veteran Logan Wormald strike twice for a commanding 5-2 lead. Overager Connor Hvidston sparked the comeback with a late powerplay goal to set up a dramatic third period. Captain Carson Wetsch drew the Hitmen closer with a keen wrister and Four Broncos Memorial Trophy nominee Oliver Tulk found the game-tying goal with a glove-side snipe. Top 2025 NHL Draft prospect Ben Kindel already had two assists entering the extra frame, and played hero with the overtime winner for a second straight match. What’s more? Kindel scored 6:08 into overtime in Game 4. His overtime goal in Game 5 came 6:09 into overtime. Calgary will try to win a fourth straight game and move on to the Eastern Conference Championship for the first time since 2015 with a win on Saturday night.
THREE STARS
1- Ben Kindel, CGY
– 1G-2A
2- Brandon Gorzynski, CGY
– 1G-2A
3- Logan Wormald, LET
– 2G
ON TAP
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