WHL PLAYOFF PREVIEW - ROUND THREE

The Flames will have two prospects playing the third round of the WHL Playoffs, which begin on Friday.

WESTERN CONFERENCE FINAL

Juuso Valimaki and Tri-City vs. Everett
Valimaki and the Americans have yet to lose in the WHL Playoffs, sweeping the Kelowna Rockets and Victoria Royals in the first two rounds and outscoring them by a 46-22 margin. Offensively, Tri-City is led by Morgan Geekie, who has 15 goals and 24 points in eight games. Michael Rasmussen trails him with 10 goals and 24 points and former Hitmen defender Jake Bean rounds out the top three in Americans scoring with one goal and 14 points to his name. Valimaki, who missed Games 3 and 4 in the second round after taking a hit in Game 2, has one goal and five points in six skates. Ahead of Game 4 against Victoria, Tri-City general manager Bob Tory said the defender was day-to-day at the tail-end of that series. In net, Patrick Dea has a 7-0-0 record with a 2.77 GAA and a .905 save percentage.
Everett has also been a dominant force in the postseason, winning their first two series 4-1. Patrick Bajkov leads the Silvertips in postseason scoring with seven goals and 15 points in 10 games. Garrett Pilon, who has 14 points, Connor Dewar and Matt Fonteyne, who each have 13 points, are right behind him in Everett's scoring race. Goaltender Carter Hart has a 8-1-1 record with a 1.92 GAA and a .944 save percentage.
Game 1 - Friday, Apr. 20 in Everett
Game 2 - Saturday, Apr. 21 in Everett
Game 3 - Monday, Apr. 23 in Kennewick
Game 4 - Thursday, Apr. 26 in Kennewick
Game 5 - Saturday, Apr. 28 in Everett
Game 6 - Monday, Apr. 30 in Kennewick
Game 7 - Tuesday, May 1 in Everett

EASTERN CONFERENCE FINAL

Glenn Gawdin and Swift Current vs. Lethbridge
Gawdin and the Broncos punched their ticket to the Eastern Conference Final with a 6-0 win over the Moose Jaw Warriors in Game 7 of their second round series. Gawdin scored two goals and four points in the victory, bringing him to nine goals and 20 points in 14 postseason games. He leads the Broncos in scoring in the playoffs, carrying on his incredible regular season play which saw him post 56 goals and 125 points in 67 games. In net, the Broncos have relied on Stuart Skinner, who has 8-4-2 record with a 2.07 GAA and a .934 save percentage.
Lethbridge is coming off a 4-1 second round series win over the Brandon Wheat Kings. The Hurricanes have received big contributions from forward Brad Morrison, who leads all WHL skaters with 29 points in the playoffs. Jordy Bellerive, with 18 points, and Taylor Ross, with 15 points, round out their top three in postseason scoring. In net, Logan Flodell has a 8-2-0 record with a 2.77 GAA and a .910 save percentage.
Game 1 - Friday, Apr. 20 in Swift Current
Game 2 - Saturday, Apr. 21 in Swift Current
Game 3 - Tuesday, Apr. 24 in Lethbridge
Game 4 - Wednesday, Apr. 25 in Lethbridge
Game 5 - Friday, Apr. 27 in Swift Current
Game 6 - Saturday, Apr. 28 in Lethbridge
Game 7 - Tuesday, May 1 in Swift Current