WHL Morning Skate: April 30
NEED TO KNOW
– Winterhawks forward Marcus Nguyen scored his first WHL hat trick to power Portland to a Game 3 win over Prince George
– The Winterhawks dished the Cougars their first back-to-back losses of the 2024 WHL Playoffs on Monday night
– The Moose Jaw Warriors will host an Eastern Conference Championship game for the first time since April 24, 2012 on Tuesday night
RESULTS
Prince George 1, Portland 4
POR leads 2-1
Portland’s three-goal outburst in the first period was too much for Prince George to overcome. Calgary, Alta. product Marcus Nguyen scored twice in the opening frame- including the game-winner- and capped off his first WHL hat trick with a sharp recovery off a rebound in the third period. Florida Panthers prospect Marek Alscher provided some insurance and 2024 NHL Draft-eligible netminder Jan Spunar recorded his second assist of the playoffs. Borya Valis scored the lone goal for the Cougars late in the third period to deny the Winterhawks a shutout.
THREE STARS
1- Marcus Nguyen, POR
-3G, +3
2- Jan Spunar, POR
-30/31 saves
-.967 save percentage
3- Nate Danielson, POR
-3A, +3
TOP PERFORMER
Portland Winterhawks centre Nate Danielson’s fingerprints were all over Portland’s dominant Game 3 win over Prince George.
The Detroit Red Wings prospect registered three primary assists for a second-straight game.
Danielson teed up Marcus Nguyen’s game-opening goal with a slick cross-crease feed from behind the net just over a minute into the first period.
The duo combined for another highlight-reel tally as Danielson bobbed and weaved through the opposition to dish a perfect pass to Nguyen in the high slot for his second goal of the period, which would stand as the game-winner.
Danielson, a Red Deer, Alta. product, polished off a three-assist opening frame with a breakout pass to Florida Panthers defensive prospect Marek Alscher, who flew down the right wing and wristed his second goal of the postseason past Joshua Ravensbergen.
The win marks Danielson’s sixth multi-point performance of the 2024 WHL Playoffs.
The Winterhawks are also undefeated in games where Danielson finds the scoresheet.
The 19-year-old has three goals and 13 assists for 16 points and a +10 rating through 11 postseason contests.
ON TAP