#WHLPlayoffs Roundup: Americans through to Western Conference Championship after sweep of Royals
Lethbridge Hurricanes (7) at Brandon Wheat Kings (4)
Lethbridge leads series 3-1
Game 5: Friday, April 13 – Enmax Centre, Lethbridge, Alta – 7:00 p.m. MT
The Lethbridge Hurricanes are headed home to southern Alberta with a chance to advance to the Eastern Conference Championship Friday following a 7-4 victory over the Brandon Wheat Kings Wednesday at Westoba Place.
Brad Morrison and Jake Elmer each had a pair of goals and finished with three points while Logan Barlage finished with a goal and an assist in the victory.
It was the Hurricanes bolting out of the gates in the game as they tallied four goals in the first 10:05 of the contest. Morrison struck for his ninth and 10th goals of the WHL Playoffs while goals from Elmer and 2018 NHL Draft prospect Dylan Cozens featured in-between.
The Wheat Kings would claw their way back into the game as goals from Marcus Sekundiak, Luka Burzan, and Stelio Mattheos made it a 4-3 game just past the midway point in the game.
A late second period goal from Zane Franklin and an early second period strike from Elmer would put the game permanently out of reach. Late goals from Ty Lewis (Colorado Avalanche) and Logan Barlage added a goal to each team’s totals in the contest.
Flodell earned his second road win of the 2018 WHL Playoffs, stopping 27 of 31 shots in the game. Myskiw stopped 20 of 27 shots in the loss.
Lewis and Mattheos each finished with a goal and an assist in the loss.
That 3-1 series feeling for the @WHLHurricanes. #LETvsBDN #WHLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/81WQfEB7Rj
— The WHL (@TheWHL) April 12, 2018
A late goal from @loganbarlage makes it a 7-4 score for the @WHLHurricanes. #LETvsBDN #WHLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/tWTW1GmRN9
— The WHL (@TheWHL) April 12, 2018
From a similar spot as he scored last night, @Avalanche prospect Ty Lewis brings the @bdnwheatkings within two! #LETvsBDN #WHLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/kFVCfr7Yqw
— The WHL (@TheWHL) April 12, 2018
The @WHLHurricanes strike first in the third as @JakeElmer gets his second of the game! #LETvsBDN #WHLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/1lZpA8VJq6
— The WHL (@TheWHL) April 12, 2018
The @WHLHurricanes answer back though as @zaner19 makes it a two-goal game once again! 5-3 now! #LETvsBDN #WHLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/zcLU1ClCjw
— The WHL (@TheWHL) April 12, 2018
The @bdnwheatkings are back in this game! @smattheos7 makes it 4-3! #LETvsBDN #WHLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/0ga3bCO6a4
— The WHL (@TheWHL) April 12, 2018
2018 #NHLDraft prospect @lukaburzan27 makes it a two-goal game as the @bdnwheatkings continue to claw back! #LETvsBDN #WHLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/JM2SAwhUp1
— The WHL (@TheWHL) April 12, 2018
The @bdnwheatkings are on the board thanks to @MSekundiak! It's 4-1 in the second. #LETvsBDN #WHLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/n4mcSLg1HB
— The WHL (@TheWHL) April 12, 2018
Make it ✌️ for @Bmorry_90 and 🖖 for the @WHLHurricanes! #LETvsBDN #WHLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/cBCLtRUGi4
— The WHL (@TheWHL) April 12, 2018
The Eastern Conference Rookie of the Year is playing like a seasoned vet! @Dylan_Cozens makes it 3-0 for the @WHLHurricanes. #LETvsBDN #WHLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/CZaay74CGK
— The WHL (@TheWHL) April 12, 2018
Stand back, the @WHLHurricanes are coming through! Jake Elmer makes it a 2-0 game 5:11 in. #LETvsBDN #WHLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/lGv0VLwSyr
— The WHL (@TheWHL) April 12, 2018
It's a 1-0 lead for the @WHLHurricanes as @Bmorry_90 extends his #WHLPlayoffs point streak to nine games! #LETvsBDN pic.twitter.com/jxbSXCyULU
— The WHL (@TheWHL) April 12, 2018
Moose Jaw Warriors (2) at Swift Current Broncos (3) – (2OT)
Series tied 2-2
Game 5: Friday, April 13 – Mosaic Place, Moose Jaw, Sask. – 7:00 p.m. MT
On the anniversary of an epic overtime clash from the 2017 WHL Playoffs, the Swift Current Broncos delivered another stunning extra time victory for their fans Wednesday.
Matteo Gennaro completed the first playoff hat trick of his WHL career 18:14 into the second overtime to lift the home side to a 3-2 victory over the visiting Moose Jaw Warriors.
Gennaro supplied all of Swift Current’s offence Wednesday, opening the scoring 14:07 into the first and then erasing their one-goal deficit 82 seconds into the third period when they trailed 2-1 before scoring in overtime.
The Warriors benefited from a pair of second period goals as both Tanner Jeannot (Nashville Predators) and Jett Woo found the back of the net. Gennaro and the Broncos were unrelenting though as Stuart Skinner (Edmonton Oilers) held them in the game at one end, allowing them to win at the other.
Skinner finished with 51 saves on 53 shots, the second-most in his WHL Playoffs career following a 56-save performance with the Lethbridge Hurricanes last season. Brody Willms stopped 40 of 43 in the loss, marking another solid effort between the pipes for the Warriors.
On the Broncos’ three goals, six different players picked up assists as Artyom Minulin, Kaden Elder, captain Glenn Gawdin (Calgary Flames), Giorgio Estephan, Aleksi Heponiemi (Florida Panthers) and Beck Malenstyn (Washington Capitals) all earned helpers.
Warriors captain Brett Howden (New York Rangers) and Kale Clague (Los Angeles Kings) had the assists for Moose Jaw in the contest.
Glove side! Double OT! Hat trick! What a night for @gens_21! @SCBroncos win! #MJvsSC #WHLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/fEmlkLDvBY
— The WHL (@TheWHL) April 12, 2018
The big man coming up HUGE in OT! 🛑 #MJvsSC #WHLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/E7arlqyGHl
— The WHL (@TheWHL) April 12, 2018
✌️ @gens_21! #MJvsSC #WHLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/uQjsnwxDZX
— The WHL (@TheWHL) April 12, 2018
2018 #NHLDraft prospect @Jett_Woo with a sneaky one! @MJWARRIORS take a 2-1 lead! #MJvsSC #WHLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/8toj9GeYZL
— The WHL (@TheWHL) April 12, 2018
We’re all even in Speedy Creek! @NYRangers prospect @B_Howdy21 is the culprit! #MJvsSC #WHLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/JHJtaZEvrL
— The WHL (@TheWHL) April 12, 2018
*Superintendent Chalmers voice* SKINNER!!! #MJvsSC #WHLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/ddbFs3hC7P
— The WHL (@TheWHL) April 12, 2018
It’s a PP effort from @gens_21! @SCBroncos take a 1-0 lead in Game 4! #MJvsSC #WHLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/v0PoG09tFh
— The WHL (@TheWHL) April 12, 2018
Victoria Royals (3) at Tri-City Americans (5)
Tri-Cities wins series 4-0
The Tri-City Americans are off to the Western Conference Championship following a 5-3 victory over the Victoria Royals Wednesday.
Completing their second straight four-game sweep on home ice, Morgan Geekie (Carolina Hurricanes) had a goal and two assists while Jake Bean (Carolina Hurricanes) added three helpers in the victory.
Noah Gregor (San Jose Sharks) opened the scoring to get the Royals on the board early, but the Americans responded with first period goals from Isaac Johnson, Sasha Mutala, and Dylan Coghlan (Vegas Golden Knights) to lead 3-1 after the first 20 minutes.
Responding in the second were the Royals, who had Kaid Oliver score his first of the 2018 WHL Playoffs followed by Gregor’s second of the game nine minutes later to level the game at three goals apiece.
The Americans would have the final say in the contest though as Geekie scored the game-winning goal 5:29 into the third and Riley Sawchuk added the insurance goal with 3:39 to go in the contest.
Patrick Dea stopped 24 of 27 shots to remain undefeated in the 2018 WHL Playoffs. Griffen Outhouse stopped 34 of 39 shots in the loss.
Jordan Topping, Michael Rasmussen (Detroit Red Wings), and Nolan Yaremko each picked up a single helper in the series-clinching win.
Tickets to the Western Conference Championship? 🎟 @TCAmericans! #VICvsTC #WHLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/yTLeXmHOqG
— The WHL (@TheWHL) April 12, 2018
Will @NHLCanes prospect @M_14Geekie ever stop scoring?! #VICvsTC #WHLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/GEjARiKAKO
— The WHL (@TheWHL) April 12, 2018
Make it 2⃣ for @SanJoseSharks prospect @n_gregs20! #VICvsTC #WHLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/LXwo6RvUWg
— The WHL (@TheWHL) April 12, 2018
.@GoldenKnights prospect @dylancoghlan15 is in on the action! #VICvsTC #WHLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/fBzwSI4T8r
— The WHL (@TheWHL) April 12, 2018
The rookie! @sashamutala gives @TCAmericans a 2-1 edge in the 1st! #VICvsTC #WHLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/JsaqDflW9z
— The WHL (@TheWHL) April 12, 2018
All square in Kennewick. Isaac Johnson gets @TCAmericans on the scoresheet! #VICvsTC #WHLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/dVtRP66imY
— The WHL (@TheWHL) April 12, 2018
On the board first! @SanJoseSharks prospect @n_gregs20 gives @victoriaroyals a 1-0 lead! #VICvsTC #WHLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/2iPdKyXNx2
— The WHL (@TheWHL) April 12, 2018
#WHLPlayoffs schedule for Thursday, April 12
Game 4 – Everett Silvertips at Portland Winterhawks – 7:05 p.m. PT (EVT leads 2-1)
