WHL Morning Skate: April 8, 2025

NEED TO KNOW

– The regular season champion Everett Silvertips eliminated Seattle in the WHL’s first 1-0 playoff game since Game 4 of the 2019 WHL Championship Series

– Rookie Raiden LeGall recorded a 57-save shutout in double overtime for Everett

– Seattle Kraken prospect Tyson Jugnauth had three assists as the Winterhawks tamed the Cougars in Game 7

– Edmonton and Prince Albert will clash in their Game 7 showdown on Tuesday night

TOP PERFORMER- APRIL 7

This one may go down as the greatest goaltending duel of the 2025 WHL Playoffs presented by Nutrien. While it was a 1v8 matchup on paper, the on-ice product was more akin to a Conference Championship. At one end, first-year netminder Raiden LeGall stood tall in the busiest game of his career to post the second-ever 1-0 shutout by a Silvertips netminder in the postseason. At the other, Buffalo Sabres prospect Scott Ratzlaff fended off wave after wave of Silvertips attacks as the game marched scoreless into the second overtime period. The duo combined for 104 saves in 93:43 of ice time. While we can honour both goalies as the stars of the game, the reality of hockey is that only one can win. LeGall was laid flat out on the ice as his teammates dogpiled him in celebration after Lukas Kaplan’s series-clinching goal, while there was little to do to console Ratzlaff after one of the finest performances of his career. The 20-year-old stopped a league-leading 250 shots in six games and exits the playoffs with a .919 save percentage, earning a standing ovation from the T-Birds faithful and Everett’s travelling fans alike when he exited the ice.

RESULTS

Everett (1), Seattle (0)

Everett wins 4-2

Always remember to thank your goalie. Scott Ratzlaff and Raiden LeGall swapped save after save as the Tips and underdog Thunderbirds battled scoreless into the second overtime period. Ratzlaff made 47 stops, while LeGall turned aside a career-high 57 pucks (his previous high was 38 in the regular season) for his first playoff shutout. In the end, it was 17-year-old Lukas Kaplan who played hero for Everett with the series-winning goal 13:43 into overtime to end Seattle’s season. Everett will take on the Portland Winterhawks in Round Two.

THREE STARS

1- Nathan Pilling, SEA

– 5 shots

2- Hayden Pakkala, SEA

– 3 shots

3- Brayden Schuurman

– 4 shots

Portland (4), Prince George (2)

Portland wins 4-3

After winning two straight games to force a deciding Game 7, Prince George was unable to complete the comeback as the Winterhawks prevailed for a second straight year. Washington Capitals prospect Terik Parascak opened the scoring for the Cats, but Portland Captain Kyle Chyzowski wouldn’t be denied in his breakout final season. Chyzowski picked up an assist on Alex Weiermair’s game-tying breakaway goal and lit the lamp himself to give the Winterhawks their first lead of the night.  Lee Shurgot leveled the game early in the third for Prince George before Josh Zakreski ripped a laser past Joshua Ravensbergen for the series-winning goal, while Diego Buttazzoni added some insurance with the empty-netter. Seattle Kraken prospect and regular season leading defensive scorer Tyson Jugnauth assisted three of his team’s goals to punch their tickets to the second round and a tilt against the Everett Silvertips.

THREE STARS

1- Koehn Ziemmer, PG

– 1 shot

2- Viliam Kmec, PG

– 1A

3- Borya Valis, PG

– 7 shots

ON TAP