WHL Morning Skate: April 28
NEED TO KNOW
– Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Fraser Minten netted the overtime winner to level Saskatoon’s series against Moose Jaw
– Detroit Red Wings prospect Nate Danielson set up three goals as Portland earned its first win of the WHL Western Conference Championship
– Prince George and Portland erupted for four goals in a 1:47 span in the second period of Game 2
RESULTS
Moose Jaw 2, Saskatoon 3 (OT)
Series tied 1-1
Remix! Saskatoon and Moose Jaw required overtime for the second time in the Eastern Conference Championship, but this time it was the regular-season champion Blades coming out on top. Nashville Predators prospect Tanner Molendyk and Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Brandon Lisowsky scored for Saskoon to erase a 2-0 deficit and another Leafs prospect, Fraser Minten, buried the game-winning goal. Minten, who started the season with the NHL club, has six goals and five assists in 11 postseason contests.
THREE STARS
1- Fraser Minten, SAS
-1G, +2
2- Atley Calvert, MJ
-1G, +2
3- Evan Gardner, SAS
-25/27 saves
-.925 save percentage
Portland 5, Prince George 3
Series tied 1-1
The Portland Winterhawks struck back after being shut out in Game 1, 5-0. Washington Capitals prospect Zac Funk struck first for Prince George, but Kyle Chyzowski and Jack O’Brien struck twice in 17 seconds to give the Winterhawks their first lead of the series. Diego Buttazoni’s first goal of the playoffs would stand as the game-winner as Portland added another three goals in the final frame to seal the win.
THREE STARS
1- Nate Danielson, POR
-3A, +2
2- Jan Spunar, POR
-29/32 saves
-.906 save percentage
3- Borya Valis, PG
-1G
TOP PERFORMER
Diego Buttazzoni’s one-goal, one-assist night powered Portland to its first win of the WHL Western Conference Championship, leveling the series against Prince George at one win each.
The second-year Winterhawk set up Kyle Chyzowski for Portland’s first goal of the series on a tic-tac-toe rush play.
Buttazzoni got on the board with his first goal of the postseason by outwaiting a Prince George defender and firing a deceptive shot past Joshua Ravensbergen.
The goal would stand as the game-winner.
That's *~2024 NHL Draft-eligible forward~* Diego Buttazzoni to you, pal.@pdxwinterhawks | #2024NHLDraft | #FeedingtheFuture pic.twitter.com/jMmep8XlyT
— The WHL (@TheWHL) April 28, 2024
The 5-foot-9, 183-pound centre has racked up one goal, five assists, and a +5 rating in 10 playoff contests.
Buttazzoni is ranked 134th among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting heading into the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, which is set to take place in Las Vegas, Nev. on June 28 and 29.