WHL conference finals begin
Don't sleep through that alarm too long today! There's a double dose of #WHLPlayoffs action heading your way tonight!
? https://t.co/Xsf8rSY25B pic.twitter.com/5fgdgW66F0
— The WHL (@TheWHL) April 19, 2019
It was a Good Friday in the WHL as both Conference Finals series’ began. In the East, the Prince Albert Raiders opened up at home with a nailbiter 1-0 victory over the Edmonton Oil Kings on the back of goaltender Ian Scott. Out West, the Vancouver Giants were victorious over the Spokane Chiefs with a thrilling 4-1 victory. There will be no rest for any of the teams involved as both teams return to the ice on Sunday night for game two. The Chiefs may be without star forward Luc Smith in Game 2 as he sustained what appeared to be an ankle injury early in the first period on Friday night and did not return.
Canada picks up a 7-4 win over Switzerland at U-18s
RECAP | @brayden_tracey scored a pair of goals for the second day in a row, helping ?? survive a comeback attempt by ?? and earn a wild 7-4 win.
??: https://t.co/NGfqJ3Bf0E#U18Worlds pic.twitter.com/bcpHhbHlKT
— Team Canada Men (@HC_Men) April 19, 2019
Canada continued their perfect record at the World U-18 Championships with a 7-4 victory over Switzerland on Friday. Moose Jaw Warriors forward Brayden Tracey had another big game with two goals and an assist. Captain and Winnipeg ICE forward Peyton Krebs and Kamloops Blazers forward Connor Zary each added a goal and an assist while Lethbridge Hurricanes forward Dylan Cozens had a goal of his own. Prince George Cougars goaltender Taylor Gauthier was back between the pipes for Canada making 24 saves. Tracey is fifth in tournament scoring with five points (4 goals 1 assist) while Krebs is sixth with four points (2 G, 2 A). Gauthier leads the tournament in saves with 63. His .900 save percentage is good enough for fourth. Canada will have Saturday off before returning to the ice on Sunday vs. Belarus.
Around the U18s
Yegor Buyalski had ?? for Belarus ?? in a 4-3 win over Finland at the #U18Worlds
— Moose Jaw Warriors (@MJWARRIORS) April 19, 2019
Heading around the U18s, Moose Jaw Warriors forward Yegor Buyalski had a goal and an assist in a huge 4-3 victory for Belarus over Finland.
Glass scores first career playoff goal
THAT ?? DIDN'T ?? TAKE ?? LONG ??
Captain Cody Glass wins the faceoff to set up the Chicago Wolves' first 2019 Calder Cup Playoff goal! https://t.co/GPl9schU9f
— Portland Winterhawks (@pdxwinterhawks) April 20, 2019
Cody Glass is off to a hot start in the AHL and that continued tonight as the Portland Winterhawks alumni scored his first career playoff goal for the Chicago Wolves in a 5-1 loss to the Grand Rapids Griffins.
Three Stars of the Night
First Star: Vancouver’s Owen Hardy had one goal and two assists for his third multi-point game of the playoffs in a 4-1 victory for the Giants
Second Star: Prince Albert’s Ian Scott had a 26 save shutout, his second of these playoffs
Third Star: Vancouver’s David Tendeck made 30 saves on 31 shots for the Giants
Honourable Mentions: Vancouver’s Dawson Holt had a goal and assist while Edmonton’s Dylan Miskiw made 23 saves on 24 shots
