Some Twitter tidbits from Geoffrey Brandow after Friday night’s WHL games . . .
In Kennewick, Wash., the Prince George Cougars beat the Tri-City Americans, 6-2, to take a 3-2 series lead. “The Cougars are first in series to win consecutive tilts and take the series lead for first time. Four goals 10-and-a-half minutes apart in third help run away. Zac Funk brings ‘da 2 goals as does Bauer Dumanski, who matches regular-season total with his 2Gs.” . . .
In Everett, the Silvertips beat the Portland Winterhawks, 5-0, but still trailed, 3-1. “Silvertips get back to do what they do best, win via shutout. Tyler Palmer puts out 22 for 2nd clean sheet with ‘Tips. Caden Zaplitny, Beau Courtney and Roan Woodward all notch first markers of playoffs; Jackson Berezowski, Austin Roest rack up 3rd.” . . .
In Saskatoon, the Blades beat the Regina Pats, 4-2, to take a 3-2 series lead. “Blades reverse a 2-0 series deficit to a 3-2 lead. Egor Sidorov is back to a goal-per-game in the series after doubling up for 2nd time in 3 games. Aidan De La Gorgendiere, Tanner Molendyk and Trevor Wong all assist on a pair.” . . .
In Red Deer, the Rebels beat the Calgary Hitmen, 6-5 in OT, to win the series, 4-1. “Rebels turn around a 5-3 deficit with 5 minutes to play in regulation before Ben King caps a 4-point affair striking in overtime five minutes in. Mats Lindgren is beneficiary of 2 of King’s passes with power play tallies. Had 8 (of 11) in season. . . . Jayden Grubbe gets grubby hands on five goals. All nine assists in series come in last three games and sets new personal best in category. No player had more points than he did assists in series. Sets Internet Era record for team for assists in a playoff game.”
——
There were two WHL playoff games on Saturday night; there will be one on Easter Sunday. . . .
Last night, the Regina Pats posted a 5-3 victory over the visiting Saskatoon Blades to even that series, 3-3. They’ll decide things in Saskatoon on Monday night. . . .
And, in Portland, the Winterhawks won, 3-2 in OT, over the Everett Silvertips to win that series, 4-1. . . . The Winterhawks, the Western Conference’s No. 3 seed, will meet the No. 2 Kamloops Blazers in the second round. Games 1 and 2 are to be played in Kamloops on Friday and Saturday. . . .
Tonight, the Tri-City Americans will be looking to stay alive as they face the Cougars in Prince George. The Cougars, who won two of three games in Kennewick, Wash., this week, haven’t been out of the first round since 2007. . . . If they need a Game 7, it is to be played in Prince George on Tuesday. . . . The winner of this series will meet up with the No. 1 Seattle Thunderbirds in the second round.
——
What do you do with your time on a Saturday night if you’re a WHL team that swept its first-round series and now is awaiting a second-round opponent? Well, if you’re the Seattle Thunderbirds you take in an NHL game . . .
——
SATURDAY IN THE WHL PLAYOFFS:
THE BEDARD REPORT — The day will come when fathers will tell their children about this one player in this one particular playoff series that took place in the spring of 2023. . . . Yes, that player is F Connor Bedard of the Regina Pats. . . . The legend grew even more last night as Bedard figured in each of his club’s first four goals, scoring once and drawing three primary assists, as the Pats beat the visiting Saskatoon Blades, 5-3, in Game 6 of their first-round series. . . . They’ll play Game 7 in Saskatoon on Monday night. . . . Bedard now has 11 goals and eight assists in the series. He has been in on 19 of Regina’s 25 goals in the six games. . . . In 63 regular-season and playoff games this season, Bedard has 162 points, including 82 goals. . . . Including his performance at the World Junior Championship, he has 185 points, including 91 goals, in 70 games. . . . You’re wondering, as am I, what the WHL record is for most points in one playoff series. Who knows? But here’s a tidbit from Lucas Punkari (@lpunkari) of the Brandon Sun: “I have no idea what the record is for most points in a WHL playoff series, but I can tell you that Jamie Black had 22 points in seven games for Tacoma in their opening-round loss to Spokane in 1993.” Indeed, Black had seven goals and 15 assists in that series.
——
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Saskatoon (3) at Regina (6) — F Connor Bedard broke a 3-3 tie at 1:59 of the 
third period and the Regina Pats went on to beat the visiting Saskatoon Blades, 5-3, to tie their series, 3-3. . . . Game 7 is scheduled to be played in Saskatoon on Monday night. . . . F Trevor Wong’s second straight goal, at 1:04 of the third, had gotten the Blades into the 3-3 tie. . . . Bedard’s 11th goal of the series came just 55 seconds later. It came as the Pats caught the Blades on a shaky line change. D Stanislav Svozil made a big-league pass from the Regina blue line to Bedard at the Saskatoon line, and he went in to score. . . . Svozil finished with three assists; he’s got three goal and nine assists in the six games. . . . Bedard also had three assists. . . . There was controversy at 11:24 of the third period as F Zackary Shantz appeared to score his second goal of the series. However, he was in the blue paint and the puck may have gone in off a skate. After a lengthy video review, the goal was disallowed. But after referee Mark Pearce spoke with Regina general manager/head coach John Paddock, there was a second lengthy review after which the goal was allowed to stand. Unfortunately, there wasn’t an explanation offered by the WHL. Yes, the WHL really needs to find a way to post explanations on social media. You know, just to keep fans informed. . . . Saskatoon F Jayden Wiens (4) opened the scoring at 9:42 of the first period. . . . Regina pulled even on a goal from F Alexander Suzdalev at 14:53. . . . Suzdalev (3) gave the Pats their first lead of the game, on a PP, at 5:04 of the second period, and F Tanner Howe (2) upped the lead to 3-1 at 12:45. . . . Wong tied it with his first two goals of the series. . . . Regina got 27 saves from G Drew Sim. . . . Saskatoon G Ethan Chadwick stopped 15 shots. . . . The Blades had won 11 straight road games going into this one, and they were 4-1-0 in Regina this season. . . . The Brandt Centre was sold out (6,499) once again.
——
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Everett (6) at Portland (3) — The Portland Winterhawks moved on to the 
second round with a 3-2 OT victory over the Everett Silvertips. . . . Portland will open the next round with games against the Blazers in Kamloops on Friday and Saturday. . . . In four regular-season meetings, Portland was 3-1-0, while Kamloops was 1-1-2. . . . Last night, F Robbie Fromm-Delorme (2) won it, on a PP, at 9:45 of OT. . . . F Gabe Klassen (2) had given Portland a 1-0 lead at 16:39 of the first period. . . . Everett went ahead with two late second-period PP goals, from F Austin Roest (4), at 16:51, and F Jackson Berezowski (4), at 18:36. . . . The Winterhawks tied it when F James Stefan (4) scored, on a PP, at 8:29 of the third. . . . Each team was 2-for-5 on the PP. . . . G Jan Špunar earned the victory with 19 saves, 21 fewer than Everett’s Tyler Palmer. . . . Everett was dogged by injuries in this series; it had seven injured players on the sidelines.
With the 10th anniversary of her kidney transplant within in sight, Dorothy is taking part in her 10th straight Kamloops Kidney Walk. So, yes, she is fund-raising. . . . The 2023 Walk is scheduled for June 4. . . . If you would like to donate to her cause, you are able to do so right here.
——
If you are interested in being a living kidney donor, more information is available here:
Living Kidney Donor Program
St. Paul’s Hospital
6A Providence Building
1081 Burrard Street
Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6
Tel: 604-806-9027
Toll free: 1-877-922-9822
Fax: 604-806-9873
Email: donornurse@providencehealth.bc.ca
——
Vancouver General Hospital Living Donor Program – Kidney
Gordon and Leslie Diamond Health Care Centre
Level 5, 2775 Laurel Street
Vancouver, BC V5Z 1M9
604-875-5182 or 1-855-875-5182
kidneydonornurse@vch.ca
——
Or, for more information, visit right here.
TAKING NOTE 