#WHLPlayoffs Roundup: Killer Kolesar & T-Birds stun Rockets; Hurricanes win at home

 

The WHL’s Conference Championships carried on Tuesday as both series shifted locations.

In Lethbridge, Jadon Joseph provided the spark as the Hurricanes used home-ice energy to shutdown the Regina Pats in Game 3 of their best-of-seven series.

In Kelowna, Keegan Kolesar connected twice as the Seattle Thunderbirds scored victory late in regulation to stake out a series lead over the Rockets.

Here’s how it all happened…

Regina Pats (1) at Lethbridge Hurricanes (3)
Hurricanes lead series 2-1
Game 4: Wednesday, April 26 – Enmax Centre, Lethbridge – 7 p.m. MT

Jadon Joseph jumped out of the penalty box and turned on the jets.

The Lethbridge Hurricanes’ 16-year-old rookie from Sherwood Park, Alta. – not necessarily known for his offensive output as a fresh-faced first-year – showed a flash of brilliance midway through the second period of Game 3 on Tuesday night.

Stepping out of the sin bin, Joseph scooped up a loose puck at centre ice and engaged the after-burners as he cruised in over the Regina blueline, fending off Pats defenceman Connor Hobbs – of all his possible opponents – before roofing the puck past goaltender Tyler Brown to give the Hurricanes a 2-1 lead.

Out of the box, down the ice, back of the net! What a finish from @jadonj9! @WHLHurricanes lead 2-1! #REGvsLET #WHLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/qg4kvdoGId

— #WHLPlayoffs (@TheWHL) April 26, 2017

You’d have to ask Joseph, but chances are pretty good that’s the most important goal he’s scored to this point in his young and promising WHL career. The marker went on to stand as the eventual game-winner as Egor Babenko added an insurance dagger 4:08 into the third period, giving the Hurricanes a 3-1 win and 2-1 series lead over the Pats.

You could tell from the first puck drop that the hosts had a little extra jump in their step.

The Hurricanes came out with a roar, grabbing a 1-0 lead over the Pats before most of the boisterous fans at the Enmax Centre had even had a chance to find their seats. Off the opening puck drop, Giorgio Estephan stormed into Regina territory, cutting to the slot from the left wing. Looking back over his shoulder, the product of Edmonton slipped a pass to a trailing Brennan Menell who burned through the slot and deposited the puck past Tyler Brown to give the Hurricanes a 1-0 lead only 16 seconds into the festivities.

That didn’t take long! @brennanmenell finds twine 16 seconds into Game 3! @WHLHurricanes lead 1-0! #REGvsLET #WHLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/RlnJEf9rCu

— #WHLPlayoffs (@TheWHL) April 26, 2017

The Pats squared things away 10:43 into the second period as Dawson Leedahl redirected a point shot from Josh Mahura, beating Hurricanes goaltender Stuart Skinner to make it a 1-1 contest. Little more than three minutes later Josesph struck for his second goal of the 2017 WHL Playoffs.

.@dawsonleedahl redirects a point shot from @joshmahura! @WHLPats tie this game up. It’s 1-1 in the 2nd! #REGvsLET #WHLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/WcZidBhJ7i

— #WHLPlayoffs (@TheWHL) April 26, 2017

Babenko’s eighth of the post-season came on a bit of a broken play 4:08 into the third. Captain Tyler Wong carried in over the Regina blueline. Knocked to the ice in the high slot, Wong managed to sweep the puck to Babenko, who ripped a quick snap shot high past the glove of Brown to make it a 3-1 game.

Babs says, “Spasibo.” @WHLHurricanes lead 3-1 in the 3rd! #REGvsLET #WHLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/6VlBc26FYA

— #WHLPlayoffs (@TheWHL) April 26, 2017

Skinner slammed the door from there, making 28 saves to become the first WHL goaltender to hit the 10-win plateau in the 2017 WHL Playoffs. Brown turned aside 24 shots in defeat.

Wong and defenceman Brady Pouteau each collected two helpers in the game.

The Hurricanes will look to take a strangle-hold 3-1 lead in their best-of-seven series when they re-engage with the Pats for Game 4, scheduled for Wednesday (7 p.m. MT) at the Enmax Centre in Lethbridge.

“Hang on, lemme snap that!” Wouldn’t wanna forget a big @WHLHurricanes win in Game 3! #REGvsLET #WHLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/xxaI7BGGIZ

— #WHLPlayoffs (@TheWHL) April 26, 2017

Seattle Thunderbirds (2) at Kelowna Rockets (1)
Thunderbirds lead series 2-1
Game 4: Wednesday, April 26 – Prospera Place, Kelowna – 7:05 p.m. PT

For the second time in the series, the Seattle Thunderbirds scored victory in the dying seconds of regulation.

Entrenched in a heated Game 3 at Prospera Place in Kelowna on Tuesday night, Keegan Kolesar scored his second goal of the game with 20 seconds to go in regulation, giving the Thunderbirds a 2-1 victory and accompanying 2-1 series lead over the Rockets.

Another late one for the @SeattleTbirds! Keegan Kolesar’s 2nd of the night makes it 2-1 with 20 seconds left! #SEAvsKEL #WHLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/AmwFKWfNRK

— #WHLPlayoffs (@TheWHL) April 26, 2017

This after defenceman Ethan Bear provided a Game 1 triumph on a massive blast from the point with a mere 11.1 seconds to go in regulation.

Kolesar’s late-stage heroics were made possible after a controversial tying goal from Calvin Thurkauf.

With the Rockets enjoying a 5-on-3 power play, Nick Merkley wired a wrist shot over the Seattle cage. The puck ricocheted straight back towards the net off the end glass, bouncing off the cross bar where Thurkauf swatted it past goaltender Carl Stankowski to tie the game 1-1 with 6:07 to go in the third period.

The strike was immediately ruled a good goal by on-ice officials, but the play was taken upstairs for a lengthy video review. After a long chat, the call on the ice was upheld, much to the displeasure of the Seattle bench.

NICK-knack, paddy-whack off the backboard, home. @merkdaddy4’s shot bounces to @calfred97 & @Kelowna_Rockets tie it! #SEAvsKEL #WHLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/uSWXRw2FTy

— #WHLPlayoffs (@TheWHL) April 26, 2017

It mattered not in the end as Kolesar’s goal proved the difference-maker as he both started and finished the scoring Tuesday evening.

After a scoreless first period, Kolesar put the Thunderbirds in front in the second period. Heading in two-on-one, the burly forward took a pass from overager Ryan Gropp and made quick work sending it past a helpless Michael Herringer to give Seattle a 1-0 advantage 11:33 into the middle period and that’s where the action remained after 40 minutes of play.

.@SeattleTbirds take a 1-0 lead in the 2nd period, thanks to Mr. Kolesar. #SEAvsKEL #WHLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/DiQTbtBQ7z

— #WHLPlayoffs (@TheWHL) April 26, 2017

Between the pipes, Stankowski once again stood on his head, making 34 saves for his 10th win of the post-season. Herringer stopped 12 shots in defeat.

The Rockets will look to utilize home ice to even the best-of-seven series when the puck drops on Game 4 on Wednesday night (7:05 p.m. PT) at Prospera Place.

.@SeattleTbirds stun the @Kelowna_Rockets with a late winner from Kolesar to take a 2-1 series lead! #SEAvsKEL #WHLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/omxofoJ0bJ

— #WHLPlayoffs (@TheWHL) April 26, 2017