WHL Morning Skate: May 4

NEED TO KNOW

– Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Fraser Minten scored twice to give the Blades a 3-2 series lead in the Eastern Conference Championship

– Saskatoon and Moose Jaw’s fourth overtime game marks the most overtime matches since Kelowna and Seattle played five extra-time matches in 2013

– Moose Jaw will try to stave off elimination and tie the series on Sunday

RESULTS

Moose Jaw 4, Saskatoon 5 (OT)

SAS leads 3-2

For a second straight game, Saskatoon let an impressive lead slip away, only to come back and seal the win in overtime. This time, it was Toronto Maple Leafs 2022 second-round pick Fraser Minten playing hero in the extra frame with a bullet from the high slot. Anaheim Ducks prospect Egor Sidorov scored his league-leading 14th goal of the season, while Washington Capitals prospect Alexander Suzdalev ended the night with three assists. CHL regular season leading scorer Jagger Firkus, a Seattle Kraken draft pick, found the back of the net and Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Denton Mateychuk lit the lamp twice as Moose Jaw pulled off a four-goal third period to force overtime. The Warriors will try to extend the series with a win on home ice in Game 6 on Sunday, May 5.

THREE STARS

1- Fraser Minten, SAS

-2G, +3

2- Charlie Wright, SAS

-1G, 1A, +2

3- Denton Mateychuk, MJ

-2G, +2

TOP PERFORMER

…Is it too late for the Maple Leafs to call up Fraser Minten?

The buds prospect came in clutch in Game 5 with a two-goal, +3 performance to bring the Blades one win away from reaching the WHL Championship for the first time since 1994.

Minten opened the scoring after pouncing on a long rebound in the slot just three minutes into the match.

The Blades would build up a 4-0 lead, but Moose Jaw fought to erase the deficit and build momentum heading into the extra frame.

With more than 11,000 fans watching with bated breath, Nashville Predators prospect Tanner Molendyk wired a pass to Minten in the high slot, slamming the puck through heavy traffic and into the Moose Jaw net.

Bow down to Fraser Minten 🙌@MapleLeafs pic.twitter.com/A8ehBG42c9

— Saskatoon Blades (@BladesHockey) May 4, 2024

The 19-year-old has netted two game-winning goals in the Eastern Conference Championship, both of which have come in overtime.

Minten has eight goals and six assists for 14 points and a +20 rating through 14 postseason contests.

He was acquired by the Blades in a blockbuster trade with the Kamloops Blazers back in November of 2023.