With building conflicts and more, the schedule gets weird in the second and future rounds, especially when teams are playing in venues allotted to other teams.
The Prince Albert Raiders/ Medicine Hat series had to start a day late due to the wonky schedule from the previous series.
Out west, thing started well enough for Everett in taking the two games at home, however, things changed for them in coming to Portland. Unlike the first two games in Everett, where the clashes went to overtime, the Hawks were strong enough in regulation to make this a very competitive series. They won on home ice 3-1 in a toughly fought contest and then went to overtime where the stats people were working overtime of their own, Portland at 2-4 plus a shorthanded marker and Everett 2-6 on the powerplay, special teams were rewarded for their work. Everett played catch-up a couple of times in this contest, finally having to pull Raiden LeGall for the extra man, and capitalized on that effort, sending the game to overtime. Alex Weiermair was given a double minor for but-ending, a rarely called penalty, but a dangerous one where a player uses the taped end of the stick to attempt to jab at another player. The opposite of that play is spearing, in which the stick’s blade is used like a spear. If no contact is made but inference to it, there’s a double minor called, injury, and then it’s a major penalty with game misconduct and a league review.
The two teams headed to overtime for the third time in four games, tied at five. Through the first 10 minutes, Everett scored six consecutive shots on goal, all saved by Ondrej Stebatek. Despite being outshot 9-3 in the extra frame, the Hawks prevailed with a 6-5 win. At 15:36, Josh Zakreski scored after an assist by Diego Buttazzoni, and the teams are now tied at 2 wins apiece, meaning this will go at least six games with one more at least in Portland..
Spokane Chiefs and Victoria Royals took almost two full overtimes for the Chiefs to squeeze out a 4-3 win, however, the next two games saw a much stronger Royals team capture a 5-1 win and then it was the Taydon show for Victoria which included a powerplay goal just thirty seconds remaining in regulation to score a 4-3 win and 2-1 series lead. Spokane managed a margin of 50-33 shots versus Victoria, but couldn’t get pucks past the Victoria netminder, who did surrender a pair to Andrew Cristall, who continues to light the lamp in leading his Chiefs with 17 points in just seven games. Victoria’s Brayden Boehm was assessed a major penalty for cross-checking and will sit out at least the next game
Out east where the Medicine Hat Tigers took two games from Prince Albert 5-4 and then 5-4 in overtime to take a 2-0 series lead and then thumped the Raiders 6-1 on Prince Albert home ice to take a commanding 3-0 lead and could compete the sweep in a coupledayse.
Lethbridge, who had been solid in Calgary with a pair of wins, is now in a titanic struggle, after dropping game 3 by a 5-3 score and then losing in overtime 3-2 to knot that series at 2
The OHL sees a similar tale as the teams battle for the opportunity to carry on their season just a little bit longer.
The Brantford Bulldogs had the Oshawa Generals in a tight game, but then lost game 3 by a 7-2 margin after two high-scoring wins. After splitting the first two games, the Kingston Frontenacs took a 5-3 victory over the Barrie Colts, which means they’ll look at least 6, maybe 7, to finish this one. London Knights have been brutal in a precise demolition of the Erie Otters, the latest a 4-0 win, and could be sweeping that series before the week is out. Kitchener Rangers staved off elimination with a 24-save shutout in a 3-0 victory over the Windsor Spitfires. That series could still conclude by week’s end.
The QMJHL had two sweeps, with Shawinigan Cataractes getting a 3-2 overtime win over Sherbrooke Phoenix to sweep. Rouyn-Noranda Huskies were finding no match with Halifax Mooseheads in a 5-1 win, and pretty much that spread through the four games played. After Baie Comeau Drakkar dropped the first two games, they snagged a win over Moncton Wildcats, but then lost in double overtime, giving the Cats a 3-1 lead. Chicoutimi Sagneens aren’t about to roll over. After losing the first two games to Rimouski Oceanic, a 3-0 win and then a 3-2 overtime win have knotted the series at two games each. Regardless, Rimouski hosts the Memorial Cup this year.
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