#WHLPlayoffs Roundup: Polei propels Rebels to electrifying double-OT win
Nothing against the first four nights of the 2017 WHL Playoffs, but oh my, Wednesday night was something else.
The post-season excitement continues to build with each passing night and Wednesday was no exception to that trend with seven thrilling games on the slate.
For starters, it took until the fifth night, but fans were finally witness to the first overtime game of the playoffs as the Lethbridge Hurricanes and Red Deer Rebels treated folks to some double-overtime exhilaration.
Way out east in Dauphin, Man., the Medicine Hat Tigers became the first team to advance to the second round as they eliminated the defending Ed Chynoweth Cup-champion Brandon Wheat Kings from contention in Game 4 of their best-of-seven series.
In Speedy Creek, the Swift Current Broncos sawed off their best-of-seven battle with the Moose Jaw Warriors, sending it back to Mosaic Place deadlocked at two games apiece. Out on Vancouver Island, the Victoria Royals did the same with their best-of-seven campaign against the Everett Silvertips.
In Kamloops, the bitter rivalry between the Blazers and Kelowna Rockets was at its best for yet another night. This time around, Michael Herringer, Dillon Dube and the visitors edged out Connor Ingram and the hosts to take a commanding 3-1 series lead.
South of the border, the Seattle Thunderbirds shellacked the Tri-City Americans to take a 3-0 series lead and the Prince George Cougar scored six unanswered goals to pull ahead 2-1 in their best-of-seven series with the Portland Winterhawks.
Let’s get start with that nail-biter in Red Deer…
Lethbridge Hurricanes (3) at Red Deer Rebels (4) – OT2
Rebels lead series 2-1
Game 4: Thursday, March 30 – Enmax Centrium, Red Deer – 7 p.m. MT
It took until the fifth night of the WHL Playoffs, but fans were finally treated to overtime hockey and boy was this one a doozy.
After an electrifying finish to regulation that saw the Red Deer Rebels scored twice in the final 3:07 of the third period to tie the game and force overtime, the two teams battled through 20 minutes of additional action without coming to a decision.
In the early stages of double overtime, Evan Polei burst in and past three Hurricanes before snapping a quick shot that beat goaltender Stuart Skinner as the Rebels shocked the Hurricanes and earned a 4-3 victory to take a 2-1 lead in their best-of-seven first-round series.
How about that for #WHLPlayoffs drama? @polei10 is your OT2 hero as @rebelshockey win a thriller! #LETvsRD pic.twitter.com/DiBUZss6SS
— #WHLPlayoffs (@TheWHL) March 30, 2017
Let’s wind things all the way back to the first period, because this game is absolutely worth that detail.
Lane Zablocki opened the scoring with a power-play goal 2:44 into the festivities, giving the Rebels an early 1-0 lead. A little more than six minutes later, Tyler Wong scored the first power-play goal of the series for the Hurricanes, tying the game 1-1 after 20 minutes of play.
In the second period, Brennan Menell wired a shot past Rebels goaltender Riley Lamb as the visiting Hurricanes claimed their first lead of the game and held onto it heading into the second intermission.
As the early stages of the third period carried forward, it looked as though the Hurricanes were set to lock in a win in Game 3. Zak Zborosky sniped his first goal of the post-season from the slot only 3:10 into the period, giving Lethbridge a 3-1 lead.
But all of that changed as the period wore closer to its end.
With 3:07 to go, Brandon Hagel jammed home a backhand for the Rebels second power-play goal of the night to make it a 3-2 game. If fingernails weren’t already being chewed by all in attendance, watching online and listening via the radio, that certainly started immediately upon Hagel’s second strike of the post-season.
Hold the phone! @Bhags9 with a PPG to make it a one-goal game in RD. #LETvsRD #WHLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/7q4yDRqmNq
— #WHLPlayoffs (@TheWHL) March 30, 2017
The Rebels continued to press but were unable to solve Stuart Skinner. With Lamb at the bench for the extra attacker, the Hurricanes iced the puck, setting up a faceoff deep in Lethbridge territory with little more than 20 seconds to go in regulation. On the ensuing faceoff in the right circle, the puck came to the point before being shuffled to the left circle where a shot from Jared Freadrich rebounded to Zablocki who rattled home his second of the night, tying the game with only 20 seconds to play.
.@LZablocki12 ties it! @rebelshockey draw even & we’re off to OT in Game 3! #LETvsRD #WHLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/XCUGgiV9FW
— #WHLPlayoffs (@TheWHL) March 30, 2017
We all know what happened after that.
Lamb kicked out 49 of the 52 shots sent his way, while Skinner was good on 45 of 49 shots.
Polei finished the night with a goal and two assists. Zablocki’s two goals were critical and Freadrich collected three helpers himself. On the other side, Wong (1G-2A) also had a three-point night while Menell (1G-1A) and Zborosky (1G-1A) put forth multipoint efforts as well.
The Rebels lead the best-of-seven series 2-1 and will aim to take a commanding 3-1 lead Thursday night, with Game 4 scheduled for 7 p.m. MT at the Enmax Centrium in Red Deer.
Seattle Thunderbirds (9) at Tri-City Americans (2)
Thunderbirds lead series 3-0
Game 4: Friday, March 31 – Toyota Center, Kennewick, Wash. – 7:05 p.m. PT
The Seattle Thunderbirds claimed a stranglehold in their best-of-seven series with the Tri-City Americans, skating to a 9-2 win in Game 3 Wednesday night in Kennewick.
Donovan Neuls (1G-4A), Ethan Bear (2G-3A) and Keegan Kolesar (1G-4A each finished the night with five points apiece. Austin Strand (2G), Jarret Tyszka, Scott Eansor, Alexander True (1G-3A) also contributed to the scoring.
Austyn Playfair and Morgan Geekie provided replies for the Americans.
Seattle scored five in the first period and three more in the second period before adding one final dagger in the third period. Both of Tri-City’s goals came in the middle period.
Carl Stankowski made 21 saves for the victory between the pipes.
In the Tri-City crease, Evan Sarthou earned his first start of the series, but was removed from the game after allowing three goals on seven shots over 10:16 of crease time. Rylan Parenteau came on in relief, making 23 saves on 29 shots.
Of note: The Thunderbirds continue to forge ahead without the services of captain Mathew Barzal and veteran goaltender Rylan Toth. Additionally, overage forward Ryan Gropp missed his first game of the series due to injury.
With backs up against the ropes, the Americans host Game 4 on Friday night (7:05 p.m. PT) at the Toyota Centre in Kennewick.
3#WinTheCup #SEAvsTC #WHLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/HH6LXmUJIx
— Seattle Thunderbirds (@SeattleTbirds) March 30, 2017
Prince George Cougars (6) at Portland Winterhawks (1)
Cougars lead series 2-1
Game 4: Thursday, March 30 – Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Portland – 7 p.m. PT
Jansen Harkins recorded a goal and four assists, leading the Prince George Cougars to a resounding 6-1 victory over the Portland Winterhawks in Game 3 of their best-of-seven series Wednesday night.
Early on, it looked as though the host Winterhawks might have the jump on their northern visitors as Skyler McKenzie scored his second of the post-season only 14 seconds into the affair. But Portland was unable to harness that momentum and the Cougars slowly but surely took over the contest, eventually scoring six unanswered goals.
Harkins was the first to respond, notching his second of the playoffs shortly after the eight-minute mark of the first period. Kody McDonald provided a power-play goal 4:10 later and Colby McAuley added some insurance with 2:18 to go in the first period as Prince George carried a 3-1 edge into the first intermission.
Tate Olson provided another power-play marker 12:03 into the second period, extending the Cougars lead by one after 40 minutes.
Brogan O’Brien and McAuley added third period tallies to round out the scoring.
Ty Edmonds made 37 saves for the win, while Cole Kehler surrendered six goals on 38 shots before giving way to Shane Farkas, who stopped all seven pucks sent his way.
Harkins (1G-4A), McAuley (2G-1A), Brendan Guhle (2A) and Nikita Popugaev (2A) all splashed significant ink on the score sheet.
The Winterhawks will aim to even the best-of-seven series Thursday night (7 p.m. PT) when they host Game 4 at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
.@JansenHarks26 with the change-up. We’re all tied up in Portland. #PGvsPOR #WHLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/0WksZZcrFq
— #WHLPlayoffs (@TheWHL) March 30, 2017
Moose Jaw Warriors (2) at Swift Current Broncos (5)
Series tied 2-2
Game 5: Friday, March 31 – Mosaic Place, Moose Jaw – 7 p.m. MT
The final score wasn’t indicative of just how close Game 4 was between the Swift Current Broncos and Moose Jaw Warriors Wednesday night at the Credit Union i-Plex.
What looked as though it was turning into a runaway for the Broncos, developed in dramatic fashion before the Broncos closed out a 5-2 win to even the best-of-seven series at 2-2 through four games.
Ryley Lindgren scored a hat trick, including the first two goals of the game, which came by the time the contest was only 2:03 old. Lindgren’s first found the back of the net 59 seconds in before he snuck home a second marker 1:04 later.
Following up on the early strikes was Tyler Steenbergen, who secured his third goal of the post-season 8:57 into the first period, giving the Broncos a commanding 3-0 lead.
Trailing 3-0 heading into the second period, the Warriors were down, but not out.
Captain Brett Howden got his boys on the board 1:16 into the second period and Josh Brook made it a one-goal game only 1:09 after that. The rest of the night provided nerve-racking moments right down to the final buzzer.
Battling to aid his teammates in the comeback effort, goaltender Zach Sawchenko flashed the leather in the third period, making one of the best glove saves you’ll see this season.
.@Chunko_31 workin’ the mitt like an absolute legend. #MJvsSC #WHLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/9DBU1dorvM
— #WHLPlayoffs (@TheWHL) March 30, 2017
Try as they might, the Warriors were unable to solve Broncos goaltender Jordan Papirny for a third time and Steenbergen added an empty-net goal on the power play with 1:03 to play, all but sealing the decision. Lindgren completed his hat trick on a late power-play goal that came with only 15 seconds to go.
Papirny made 30 saves for the win, while Sawchenko stopped 20 of the 24 pucks directed his way.
Max Lajoie added a pair of helpers for Swift Current. Jayden Halbgewachs and Brayden Burke both did the same for Moose Jaw.
With four games down and this series sawed off, it becomes a best-of-three affair. Game 5 is slated for Friday (7 p.m. MT) at Moose Jaw’s Mosaic Place before the series returns to Swift Current’s Credit Union i-Plex for Game 6 on Saturday (7 p.m. MT).
.@SCBroncos take Game 4 & this series is all even. #MJvsSC #WHLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/N6b5xvMw21
— #WHLPlayoffs (@TheWHL) March 30, 2017
Medicine Hat Tigers (3) at Brandon Wheat Kings (2)
Tigers win series 4-0
The Medicine Hat Tigers became the first WHL team to advance to the second round of the post-season with a 3-2 win over the Brandon Wheat Kings, completing a four-game sweep of the defending Ed Chynoweth Cup champions Wednesday night in Dauphin, Man.
After 40 minutes of scoreless hockey, both teams pressed in the third period and it was the Tigers finding pay dirt first as captain Clayton Kirichenko scored his third goal of the post-season 24 seconds into the final period.
David Quenneville made it a 2-0 game 1:07 later as the Tigers scored two quick ones to set the tone early in the third period.
Almost as quickly as Kirichenko and Quenneville combined to give Medicine Hat the lead, veteran Reid Duke responded on a power play to keep the Wheat Kings in the game. His third of the post-season came only 1:40 after Quenneville had made it a 2-0 game.
Midway through the third, Quenneville found the back of the net once again, utilizing a man advantage to restore the Tigers two-goal lead.
Still, the Wheat Kings refused to fold.
Kale Clague converted on a second power-play opportunity for Brandon, once again cutting the Medicine Hat lead to one, this time with 4:12 remaining in regulation.
With goaltender Logan Thompson on the bench for the extra attacker, the Wheat Kings pressed desperately for the equalizer, including two chances on top of the blue paint in the final seconds. As the buzzer sounded, a rebound was swatted to the back of the net, but it was mere milliseconds late as the Tigers held on for the four-game sweep, punching their ticket to the second round in the process.
Michael Bullion made 23 saves for the win, while Thompson was once again beyond admirable, turning aside 51 of 54 shots in the Wheat Kings cage.
.@tigershockey move to the second round with a 3-2 win in Game 4. #MHvsBDN #WHLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/46zjhLdByA
— #WHLPlayoffs (@TheWHL) March 30, 2017
Kelowna Rockets (1) at Kamloops Blazers (0)
Rockets lead series 3-1
Game 5: Friday, March 31 – Prospera Place, Kelowna – 7:05 p.m. PT
It went right down to the wire, but Michael Herringer made 24 saves to backstop the Kelowna Rockets to a 1-0 victory over the Kamloops Blazers in Game 4 of their best-of-seven series Wednesday night at the Sandman Centre.
While Herringer was perfect between the pipes, Calgary Flames prospect Dillon Dube provided the lone goal in the second period.
Carrying the puck out of the corner, Dube spun and dished to Carsen Twarynski in the right faceoff circle before scurrying through the slot for the return feed. Twarynski hit him perfectly and Dube finished off the beautiful sequence by lifting a well-placed shot high past the blocker of Blazers goaltender Connor Ingram. That goal served to fill all the scoring in the contest and came 2:37 into the second period.
Dillon Dube dashes, dishes & delivers. @Kelowna_Rockets lead 1-0. #KELvsKAM #WHLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/ezy2SrdMvP
— #WHLPlayoffs (@TheWHL) March 30, 2017
The Blazers certainly had their opportunities to even the affair, but for the second time in four games, Herringer stymied each and every attempt. Perhaps the best chance came off the stick of Latvian laser Rudolfs Balcers, who burned through the slot in the final 30 seconds before being tripped up. With a delayed call on the way, the WHL’s Western Conference Rookie of the Year managed to fire a shot at the cage while airborne, just narrowly missing the far post.
Kamloops scrambled on the ensuing power play and saw a few chances in tight, but Herringer was on guard to slam the gate for his second shutout of the series.
While Herringer came out unscathed, Ingram did nearly the same, making an astounding 48 saves in defeat.
The Rockets will shoot to extinguish the Blazers back at home in Kelowna, with Game 5 scheduled for Friday (7:05 p.m. PT) at Prospera Place.
What a game! @MHerringer with another SO & @Kelowna_Rockets lead this series 3-1. #KELvsKAM #WHLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/lM68uVwSdV
— #WHLPlayoffs (@TheWHL) March 30, 2017
Everett Silvertips (1) at Victoria Royals (2)
Series tied 2-2
Game 5: Friday, March 31 – XFINITY Arena, Everett – 7:35 p.m. PT
Griffen Outhouse made 30 saves and the Victoria Royals hung on to defeat the Everett Silvertips 2-1 in Game 4 to even their best-of-seven series at two games apiece.
Regan Nagy opened the scoring with a nifty effort 5:03 into the first period, batting a puck out of midair to beat Carter Hart for a 1-0 Royals lead.
In the final minute of the second period, Dante Hannoun provided a second tally for the hosts, beating Hart with only 44 seconds to go before the intermission.
Late in the third period, Patrick Bajkov collected his fourth goal of the post-season by converting a power-play opportunity to make it a 2-1 game with 3:55 remaining in regulation. But that’s as close as the Silvertips managed Wednesday evening.
Hart finished the night with 18 saves.
The two teams return to Everett in search of the series lead with Game 5 set for Friday (7:35 p.m. PT) at XFINITY Arena.
.@victoriaroyals eke out a 2-1 win & this series is all knotted up after Game 4. #EVTvsVIC #WHLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/h7IYeJNG9G
— #WHLPlayoffs (@TheWHL) March 30, 2017
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