WHL Playoffs Top Performer: April 27, 2024

Diego Buttazzoni’s first goal of the 2024 WHL Playoffs presented by Nutrien was a big one.

Huge.

The Winterhawks forward netted the game-winning goal and added an assist against Prince George to level the Western Conference Championship at one win apiece.

Buttazzoni set up a Kyle Chyzowski strike for Portland’s first goal of the series, tying the match 1-1 in the second period.

With Portland leading 3-2 in the third period, Buttazzoni received a pass from Josh Zakreski in the high slot, cut to the left to outwait a Cougars defender and wristed the puck past Joshua Ravensbergen to extend the lead.

The 2024 NHL Draft-eligible forward’s marker would make the difference as Portland surged to a 5-3 victory.

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

Buttazzoni, a Langley, B.C. product, has one goal, five assists and a +5 rating in 10 postseason games.

The 18-year-old is ranked 134th among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting ahead of June’s NHL Entry Draft.

Portland looks to take its first lead of the Western Conference Championship as the series shifts south of the border for games 3-5.

Game 3 is set for Monday, April 29 at Portland’s Veterans Memorial Coliseum at 7:00 p.m. PST.