WHL Morning Skate: April 28

NEED TO KNOW

– The Everett Silvertips are one win away from advancing to the WHL Championship Series for the first time since 2018

– NHL Draft-eligible Matias Vanhanen’s two-point night has him tied for the playoff scoring lead (9G-9A)

– Penticton has scored in the opening minute of a period a league-best three times in the 2026 WHL Playoffs

– The Raiders and Tigers will tussle in Game 3 as the Eastern Conference Championship shifts to Medicine Hat

TOP PERFORMER

Call him one of Everett’s crown ‘Jules’! Seattle Kraken prospect Julius Miettinen put up his sixth multipoint game of the 2026 WHL Playoffs- but it’s his timing that’s been one of the most important parts of his game. The 6-foot-3, 207-pound centreman tied Game 3 of the Western Conference Championship at the halfway point of the game with a wraparound tally before setting up Matias Vanhanen for Everett’s first lead of the night. Miettinen also went 13/24 at the faceoff dot as the Silvertips took a commanding 3-0 series lead. The 20-year-old owns 17 points (9G-8A) in 12 playoff games to tie for second in the WHL playoff scoring race.

RESULTS

Everett 4, Penticton 3

EVT leads 3-0

Penticton certainly got the start it wanted as Ethan Weber- who tied Game 2 with under a minute remaining- got the SOEC rocking with a wrister from below the faceoff dot just 37 seconds into the match. Unfortunately for the Vees, Everett also got the response it needed. 20-year-old Zackary Shantz tied it up with a one-timer from the slot that Florida Panthers prospect Shea Busch teed up. Vees captain Nolan Stevenson put his team back on top 46 seconds into the second, but the Silvertips had another trick in the bag as Seattle Kraken prospect Julius Miettinen put a shot on net from the slot, collected his rebound as frantic skaters jockeyed for position, and buried his ninth goal of the postseason on the wraparound. Miettinen came back for more as he set up his fellow countryman, Matias Vanhanen (NHL CSS: 54), for a bardown snipe to give Everett its first lead of the night. Hunter Rudolph delivered a highlight-reel play as he redirected a between-the-legs pass to Rhys Jamieson to add some insurance for the visitors. Jamieson’s second of the playoffs would stand as the game-winner as Vees alternate captain Brady Birnie got Penticton within one. Everett would survive a late delay of game penalty, with Anders Miller stepping up with a flurry of key saves, to bring themselves within one win of punching their ticket to the championship round.

THREE STARS

1- Matias Vanhanen, EVT

– 1G-1A

2- Julius Miettinen, EVT

– 1G-1A

3- Louis Wehmann 

– 2A

ON TAP