WHL Playoffs Top Performer: May 3

Fraser Minten will start it, and he’ll end it.

The Toronto Maple Leafs prospect scored twice, including the overtime winner, to seal a 5-4 win over the Moose Jaw Warriors on Friday night.

Saskatoon now holds a formidable 3-2 series lead in the Eastern Conference Championship.

Minten got the crowd of more than 11,000 fans on their feet just under three minutes into the match after connecting with a long rebound in the Warriors slot for the game-opening tally.

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 the clock ticking down and second overtime on the horizon, Minten parked in the high slot again and unloaded on a Tanner Molendyk pass, sending the puck through a sea of bodies and into the back of the Moose Jaw net.

FRASER MINTEN DOES IT AGAIN!

The @MapleLeafs prospect nets the second WHOA-vertime winner for the @BladesHockey at the Eastern Conference Championship!#LeafsForever | #WHLPlayoffs | #FeedingtheFuture pic.twitter.com/ttOpS28CAX

— The WHL (@TheWHL) May 4, 2024

This marks Minten’s second game-winning goal of the Eastern Conference Championship, after netting the overtime winner in Game 1.

The 19-year-old has racked up eight goals and six assists for 14 points and a +20 rating through 14 postseason contests.

Minten was selected by the Leafs with the 38th pick in the second round of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft and made his NHL debut with the Maple Leafs in October.

Saskatoon can advance to the WHL Championship Series for the first time since 1994 with a win in Game 6 on Sunday.

Puck drop is set for 2:00 p.m. ST at the Moose Jaw Events Centre.