WHL Playoff Recap: Wong’s OT heroics leads Lethbridge to the Eastern Conference Final

Lethbridge 5 @ Medicine Hat 4 OT

-For most of us, playing in a game 7 is the ultimate dream game. Having it go to Overtime is the icing on the cake. What kid doesn’t want to be the hero in extra time to take your team to the next round in the playoffs. That is exactly what Tyler Wong of the Lethbridge Hurricanes got to live out last night. Brennan Riddle took a penalty for high sticking at 2:08 of the overtime period. This gave the Tigers an excellent opportunity to win the game but Stuart Skinner made an absolutely beautiful save, that led to the chance for Wong. He would make no mistake and there would be handshakes following his goal.

Early in the game the Medicine Hat Tigers opened the scoring when Zach Fischer poked a puck past Skinner. They controlled the play for the first half of the first period. Lethbridge answered quickly though, scoring just nine seconds later. The second half of the period was all Hurricanes as they took a 3 – 1 lead into the intermission.

It took just minutes and 26 seconds into the second period for the Tigers to take the lead back in this back and forth affair. Matt Bradley and Mark Rassell (2) scored the goals, all three came within five minutes and 19 seconds of each other. Michael Bullion only saw seven shots in the period and he was able to stop them all. Stuart Skinner had 17 shots against him.

Both teams played the third period like they wanted it. It was Lethbridge who would tie the game with less than three minutes to go in the game. Affiliated player Dylan Cozens scored his second of the playoffs, he turned 16 on February the 9th.

Health: The Hurricanes have to be hoping some of the bodies in the infirmary return quickly. They had five regulars out of the lineup for game seven. Each of Calen Addison, Matt Alfaro, Zak Zborosky, Ryan Vandervlis and Zane Franklin will look  to get into game shape for the series with the Pats.

Game 1: Lethbridge 0 Medicine Hat 4

Game 2: Lethbridge 7 Medicine Hat 4

Game 3: Medicine Hat 2 Lethbridge 5

Game 4: Medicine Hat 3 Lethbridge 2 (OT)

Game 5: Lethbridge 5 Medicine Hat 4

Game 6: Medicine Hat 5 Lethbridge 2

Game 7: Lethbridge 5 Medicine Hat 4 (OT)

Leading scorers:

Tyler Wong (11G, 11A), Giorgio Estephan (8G, 11A), Egor Babenko (7G, 11A)

John Dalhstrom (6G, 7A), David Quenneville (4G, 9A) Chad Butcher (3G, 10A)

DUBNetwork would like to thank the following overage players for their time in the Western Hockey League and good luck to you in the future.

Clayton Kirichenko 238 GP 25 G 93 A

Steven Owre 282 GP 74 G 147 A

Chad Butcher 301 GP 82 G 177 A