With teams heavily leading in their series in the WHL this weekend, things got clearer in the east as the weekend progressed.
With Calgary scooting through with four straight, the other series mostly were completed this weekend.
Medicine Hat, which had been shocked by a 6-3 loss to Swift Current, came back and took game five by a 3-2 win. After scoring goals in the first and second periods, nothing happened in the third, despite Swift Current pulling Reid Dyck for the last two minutes of the game. As are many classy moves, the final games see the team’s players lose. Their overage players are honored as the three stars.
Lethbridge Hurricanes took it hard to the Brandon Wheat Kings 5-2 after the final four goals went to Lethbridge including an empty net goal, Likewise the Canes will wait as the final game will determine who plays who.
It was a fairytale. Edmonton Oil Kings, at the seventh spot, led the Prince Albert Raiders 3-1 in games. The weekend, however, went the Raiders’ way. Though the games were close at 4-2 and 4-3, respectively, the Raiders hung on to win both and force a final game 7 in Prince Alberta to settle this. The scenarios see Edmonton win and a battle with Medicine Hat, or Prince Albert will travel to the Hat. Calgary is set to host Lethbridge.
Victoria showed its power out west with an obliterating 7-0 thumping of Tri City to advance in five games. Spokane was an impressive squad itself. After giving a game to Vancouver, the Chiefs scored two goals on three tries, but it was the seven, yes you read that right, seven straight goals by Spokane, including a hat-trick by Andrew Cristall, to win a 9-4 decision over the Giants and a 4-1 series win
After being shocked by Seattle with the Thunderbirds 2-1 series lead, the Silvertips took a 6-2 from Seattle, followed by a 7-4 win and a 3-2 series lead with the final two games to settle the score. Three minutes later, Prince George pulled a dagger with a 2 on 1 breakaway and faking the trailer, Ben Richie scored. Shortly after a big hit, Josh Zakreski dropped, with no penalty, but Prince George took one on the ensuing faceoff, so the Hawks looked to get one to make it close. The Hawks had several golden opportunities, but weren’t able to convert.
Portland was up 3-1 following a double overtime win, but seemed to run out of gas the next game in a brutal 7-2 loss to the Cougars, forcing the series back to the Hub City for the possible two games. Now up 3-2 in the series, it became a defensive battle once again with no scoring in the first period, but two goals three minutes apart before the midway mark of the second period got the crowd buzzing with a tie again.
In the third, Riley Hight, who has been the main go-to guy against Portland, scored a weird angle shot that somehow got by Ondrej Stebatek, putting the Cougars up. Two minutes later, Ryder Thompson used traffic in front of the net to let a wrister go and apparently score. However, it was ruled no goal as Kyle Chykowski was ruled to have caused goaltender interference.
That seemed to give the Cougars momentum.. Three minutes later, the Cougars stuck the fork in the Hawks with a 2 on 1 fake pass and a rocket shot past Ondrej Stebatek to go up 3-1.
The Hawks pulled Stebatek with just under two minutes to go, and they had numerous chances to get a goal or tie, but Joshua Ravensbergen was solid to the challenge. In the end, Rilet Hight broke free and scored into the empty net for the hat-trick and 4-1 win, setting up the Cougars’ first game seven since 2002. You go back even further to 1998, when they actually won a game 7.
The stage is now set. Game 7 Hawks and Cougars and Game 6 Silvertips and Thunderbirds are on Monday, and possibly Game 7 for the Tips/ Birds is on Tuesday.
Winners of those series will determine who goes where.
If the Tips win, they will host Portland, and Spokane will host Victoria. If Prince George and Everett win, Everett will host Prince George, and Spokane will host Victoria. If Seattle and Portland win, Seattle heads to Spokane, and Victoria hosts Portland. Serious implications come out of the next game(s). Get ready for the next writeup to settle the score. Who said hockey was boring?
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