#WHLPlayoffs Roundup: Stankowski shines for Seattle in Game 1 win

 

It’s the most wonderful time of the year and the opening night of the 2017 WHL Playoffs was nothing short of exciting as seven of the eight first-round series got underway Friday evening.

There were fabulous goaltending performances from the likes of wily veterans Jordan Papirny and Michael Herringer, plus an electrifying debut in net from Carl Stankowski – a fresh-faced 17-year-old rookie for the Seattle Thunderbirds.

Mark Rassell brought hats down from the rafters at the Canalta Centre as the Medicine Hat Tigers trounced the Nolan Patrick-less Brandon Wheat Kings and Adam Brooks burned up the Calgary Hitmen, scoring four points in a Game 1 win.

In Everett, the Silvertips took care of business with the Victoria Royals, while up north in Prince George the Portland Winterhawks shocked the Cougars and stole home-ice advantage in the process.

There’s plenty to talk about, so let’s get down to it…

Swift Current Broncos (2) at Moose Jaw Warriors (0)
Broncos lead series 1-0
Game 2: Saturday, March 25 – Mosaic Place, Moose Jaw – 7 p.m. MT

On the opening night of the 2017 WHL Playoffs, Jordan Papirny provided hard evidence for why the Swift Current Broncos went out and picked him up at the WHL Trade Deadline.

The 20-year-old veteran goaltender turned aside all 40 shots sent his way by the Moose Jaw Warriors to earn his second career WHL post-season shutout and backstop the Broncos to a 2-0 victory and 1-0 lead in their best-of-seven Eastern Conference first-round series.

Papirny, of course, led the Brandon Wheat Kings to the 2016 WHL Championship, but was moved to Speedy Creek under the wire on the Jan. 10 deadline.

After a scoreless first period Friday in Moose Jaw, the WHL’s regular season goal-scoring co-leader Tyler Steenbergen picked up where he left off, burying a wrist shot from the high slot give Swift Current a 1-0 lead 11:18 into the second period. The marker served as Steenbergen’s first of the post-season, hot on the heels of the 51 he managed during regular-season festivities.

The 1-0 score held up until the final minute of regulation as Warriors goaltender Zach Sawchenko did everything in his power – making 31 saves on 32 shots – to give his team a chance.

Glenn Gawdin iced the Game 1 victory for the Broncos with an empty-net tally late in the proceedings.

The Broncos, who finished the season as the third seed in the East Division, have taken away home-ice advantage from the second-seed Warriors. Game 2 is scheduled for Saturday night (7 p.m. MT) back in Moose Jaw.

.@SCBroncos take a 1-0 series lead #MJvsSC #WHLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/QvK9KvWVoP

— #WHLPlayoffs (@TheWHL) March 25, 2017

Calgary Hitmen (2) at Regina Pats (5)
Pats lead series 1-0
Game 2: Saturday, March 25 – Brandt Centre, Regina Pats – 7 p.m. MT

Oh captain, my captain.

Adam Brooks scored twice and had four points, taking care of business as the Regina Pats defeated the Calgary Hitmen by a 5-2 margin in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference first-round series Friday night.

A scoreless first period bled into the second where Jake Kryski opened the scoring, giving the Hitmen a 1-0 lead with a power-play goal. The 19-year-old product of Vancouver took a pass from Jakob Stukel before breaking in alone on Tyler Brown and depositing the puck low inside post for his first-career WHL playoff goal.

Before the second period came to a close, the Pats responded with a power-play goal of their own as Josh Mahura put a shot past Cody Porter, who was forced to deal with the big body of Dawson Leedahl up in his grill.

When the third period got underway, that was when Brooks took over.

The captain converted on a beautiful back-and-forth with Filip Ahl to put the Pats ahead for the first time in the game 4:25 into the third period. Less than two minutes later, he gave his club a two-goal edge with his second of the night.

The Hitmen didn’t fold though, as Kryski notched his second of the night three minutes after, pulling Calgary back within one. The veteran forward was in the right place at the right time, lurking alongside the far post, collecting a rebound and sliding it past Brown to make it 3-2 with 10:56 to go in regulation.

Bryan Lockner reclaimed the two-goal lead for Regina with his first-career WHL goal, then it was Austin Wagner put his blazing speed on display for all to enjoy, breaking away through neutral ice and beating Porter for a short-handed goal that made it a 5-2 game with 3:01 to play.

Brown finished the night with 20 saves, while Porter turned aside 27 in defeat.

With Brooks leading the offense, both Ahl and Connor Hobbs collected a pair of assists apiece.

The Pats, winners of the Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy as WHL regular season champions, own a 1-0 series lead with Game 2 of the best-of-seven contest set for Saturday night (7 p.m. MT) at the Brandt Centre in Regina.

The @WHLPats celebrate a 1-0 series lead #REGvsCGY #WHLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/QYspnqdjxK

— #WHLPlayoffs (@TheWHL) March 25, 2017

Kamloops Blazers (0) at Kelowna Rockets (4)
Rockets lead series 1-0
Game 2: Saturday, March 25 – Prospera Place, Kelowna – 7:05 p.m. PT

Carsen Twarynski scored twice and Michael Herringer pitched a 15-save shutout as the Kelowna Rockets scored a 4-0 victory over the Kamloops Blazers to draw first blood in their first-round best-of-seven series Friday night.

The Rockets came out flying, outshooting the Blazers 48-15 by the time the final buzzer sounded.

Twarynski, who was acquired by the Rockets from the Calgary Hitmen prior to the WHL Trade Deadline, opened the festivities with his second-career playoff goal late in the first period. Only 28 seconds elapsed before Tomas Soustal notched his 10th-career playoff marker to give Kelowna a 2-0 advantage after 20 minutes of play.

Reid Gardiner converted on a power-play opportunity, sending a long shot through a screen to give Kelowna a 3-0 lead after 40 minutes of play.

If there was any question as to the decision, Twarynski took care of any doubt, sending a second power-play tally to the back of the Blazers net 8:47 into the third period to make it 4-0.

Herringer’s 15 saves gave him his third-career WHL playoff shutout. At the other end of the rink, Connor Ingram made 44 saves in defeat.

With the win, the second-seed Rockets take a 1-0 series lead over the third-seeded Blazers. Game 2 is schedule for Saturday night (7:05 p.m. PT) at Prospera Place in Kelowna.

.@ctwarynski opens the scoring for the @Kelowna_Rockets #KELvsKAM #WHLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/lHEuMDF4Nf

— #WHLPlayoffs (@TheWHL) March 25, 2017

Victoria Royals (2) at Everett Silvertips (4)
Silvertips lead series 1-0
Game 2: Saturday, March 25 – XFINITY Arena, Everett, Wash. – 7:05 p.m. PT

The Everett Silvertips stormed out to a four-goal lead en route to a 4-2 triumph over the Victoria Royals in Game 1 of their opening-round WHL playoff series

Defenceman Kevin Davis opened the scoring with a power-play marker 8:11 into the first period before Everett rattled off three goals in a span of 4:20 late in the second period to take complete control of the proceedings.

First, Patrick Bajkov made it a 2-0 game 12:04 into the second period with veteran import Dominic Zwerger setting him up. After helping out, Zwerger took scoring into his own hands, sending back-to-back goals past Griffen Outhouse – the second on a power play – as Everett grabbed a 4-0 lead.

Jack Walker put the Royals on the board in the final minute of the second period, converting a power-play opportunity to make it a 4-1 game after 40 minutes.

Dante Hannoun added another power-play goal for Victoria, but it came with a mere 5:02 remaining in regulation, too little too late for Victoria to claw back in Game 1.

Carter Hart made 30 saves to collect the win, while Outhouse surrendered four goals on 25 shots.

The Silvertips, who finished as the top team in the Western Conference, take a 1-0 series lead over the wild-card Royals into Game 2, which is schedule for Saturday (7:05 p.m. PT) at XFINITY Arena in Everett.

Chalk that up as a W! #EVTvsVic pic.twitter.com/xjwtB9JQSs

— Everett Silvertips (@WHLsilvertips) March 25, 2017

Portland Winterhawks (4) at Prince George Cougars (2)
Winterhawks lead series 1-0
Game 2: Sunday, March 26 – CN Centre, Prince George – 5 p.m. PT

The Portland Winterhawks made the long trek north and will return home with at least a split after earning a 4-2 victory over the Prince George Cougars in Game 1 of their best-of-seven first-round series Friday night.

The Winterhawks stole home-ice advantage away from the B.C. Division-champion Cougars by scoring twice on the power-play, including a first-period conversion from defenceman Brendan De Jong and a second-period marker from Keegan Iverson.

After De Jong’s power-play tally opened the scoring, Jared Bethune recorded a goal with the man advantage for the Cougars, tying the game up. But Skyler McKenzie restored the lead for the Winterhawks with 1:21 to go in the first period and Portland led 2-1 after 20 minutes.

Iverson’s power-play effort came 3:06 into the second period, giving the Winterhawks a 3-1 lead that stood after the buzzer sounded to end the middle period.

In the opening moments of the third period, Jansen Harkins got his club back within striking distance, scoring his third-career power-play goal to make it 3-2 only 2:43 in, leaving plenty of time to complete the comeback. Press as they did, the Cougars were unable to solve Winterhawks goaltender Colton Kehler further and Colton Veloso secured the Game 1 win by popping an empty-net goal with 38 seconds to play.

Kehler made 23 saves for his first-career WHL playoff victory. Ty Edmonds turned aside 31 shots in defeat.

The Winterhawks received scoring from four different culprits, while Colby McAuley chipped in with two helpers for the Cougars.

The Cougars will look to even the series with Game 2 set for Sunday evening (5 p.m. PT) at the CN Centre in Prince George.

The #Winterhawks game at a glance for Game 1 of #PGvsPOR is presented by @Toyota: pic.twitter.com/NmIECf659U

— Portland Winterhawks (@pdxwinterhawks) March 25, 2017

Tri-City Americans (2) at Seattle Thunderbirds (4)
Thunderbirds lead series 1-0
Game 2: Saturday, March 25 – ShoWare Center, Kent, Wash. – 7:05 p.m. PT

Carl Stankowski looked a lot more like a 20-year-old seasoned veteran than a 17-year-old rookie playing his first-career WHL game Friday night.

With overage goaltender Rylan Toth out of action due to an undisclosed injury, the 5-foot-9, 159-pound Stankowski took to the blue paint and created a memorable masterpiece, making 33 saves to backstop the Seattle Thunderbirds to a 4-2 win over the Tri-City Americans in Game 1 of their first-round Western Conference series Friday night.

Stankowski, a former second-round bantam pick (37th) who only turned 17 on March 9, entered play with a whopping seven WHL appearances in his career. If there were any nerves in the promising young puck-stopper, they were anything but apparent as made a number of critical stops, including a third-period penalty shot from Ams leading scoring Morgan Geekie that came with a 3-2 Seattle lead on the board.

The pressure doesn’t get much greater than that, does it?

While Stankowski took care of his cage, the Thunderbirds veterans in front of him did damage on the scoresheet.

Keegan Kolesar opened the scoring 5:37 into the first period and Ryan Gropp added another with a power-play effort 8:50 in. Jordan Topping got the Americans on the board and it was a 2-1 game after 20.

Following a scoreless second period, defenceman Austin Strand maintained his hot hand since coming to the Emerald City from Red Deer, giving the Thunderbirds a 3-1 lead 4:50 into the third period.

Tri-City did manage to get one breakaway opportunity past the young Stankowski as Austyn Playfair, sprung in alone, executed nicely before shelfing one to make it a 3-2 game with 12:34 to go in regulation.

After the Thunderbirds killed a late power-play opportunity for the Americans, Kolesar struck for the second time on the night, providing the necessary insurance as Seattle secured a 4-2 win and 1-0 series lead.

Toth wasn’t the only key Thunderbird to view the Game 1 festivities from the press box. He was joined by Seattle captain Mathew Barzal.

Kolesar finished the night with three points (2G-1A), with defenceman Ethan Bear contributing two assists.

The Americans and Thunderbirds will skate again Saturday night, with Game 2 slated for 7:05 p.m. (PT) at the ShoWare Center.

.@kkolesar28 seals a 1-0 series lead for @SeattleTbirds. #SEAvsTC #WHLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/JKZPts57hE

— #WHLPlayoffs (@TheWHL) March 25, 2017

Brandon Wheat Kings (2) at Medicine Hat Tigers (7)
Tigers lead series 1-0
Game 2: Saturday, March 25 – Canalta Centre, Medicine Hat – 7:30 p.m. MT

Mark Rassell notched a hat trick and the Medicine Hat Tigers went 4-for-9 on the power play as they thumped the Brandon Wheat Kings by a 7-2 margin in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference first-round series Friday night.

Perhaps the biggest news of the night came prior to puck drop as it was revealed Wheat Kings captain Nolan Patrick was not set to play Game 1 of the series due to an undisclosed injury. He is considered day-to-day.

Clayton Kirichenko scored what goes into the books as the opening goal of the 2017 WHL Playoffs, giving the Tigers a 1-0 lead 6:46 into the game. Matt Bradley scored the Tigers’ first power-play goal of the night with 1:03 to go in the first period and it was 2-0 after 20 minutes of play.

Rassell registered his first of the night – another power-play effort – only 2:18 into the second period and just like that, Medicine Hat owned a 3-0 lead.

Stelio Mattheos provided a quick response for Brandon, finding the back of the net 46 seconds later to make it a 3-1 game.

Fischer gave the Tigers a third power-play goal 8:55 into the second period only to see Tyler Coulter claw one back on the man advantage less than five minutes later. But Kirichenko scored his second of the night later in the second period and Medicine Hat led 5-2 after 40 minutes of play.

Rassell did the rest of the scoring in the third period, getting his second of the night on another power play with 7:28 to go in regulation. He then completed the hat trick with 21 seconds left on the clock.

Michael Bullion made 26 saves to collect his first-career WHL playoff victory. At the other end of the rink, Logan Thompson faced an absolute firing squad, steering away 45 of the 52 shots sent his way.

Mattheos (1G-1A) managed a multipoint night for the Wheat Kings, as did defenceman Kale Clague (2A). On the other bench, big nights were enjoyed by Kirichenko (2G-1A), David Quenneville (3A), Chad Butcher (2A), Rassell (3G) and Fischer (1G-1A).

While the status of Patrick remains up in the air, the Wheat Kings will aim to even the series Saturday night (7:30 p.m. MT) when Game 2 gets underway from the Canalta Centre in Medicine Hat.

The first goal of the 2017 #WHLPlayoffs goes to @ClayKirichenko4! #MHvsBDN pic.twitter.com/pNCqjrBJee

— #WHLPlayoffs (@TheWHL) March 25, 2017