WHL Championship: Chiefs Steal Game 2, Series Tied!
Wow, what a game! Sunday night's WHL Championship clash between the Spokane Chiefs and the Medicine Hat Tigers was a rollercoaster. After Medicine Hat dominated Game 1 with a 4-1 win – extending their playoff streak to an unbelievable 11 games – the Chiefs roared back with a 6-2 victory, tying the series 1-1. It was a total turnaround, and honestly, who saw that coming?
A Wild Start for Spokane
It started out just like Game 1; Medicine Hat jumped out to an early lead. Just 55 seconds in, Cayden Lindstrom (back from injury alongside Andrew Basha) scored his first playoff goal. It felt like deja vu – were we about to see another Medicine Hat blowout? Nope. Spokane had other ideas.
The Chiefs exploded in the first period, scoring four unanswered goals in just 4:36! Captain Berkley Catton was on fire, netting two goals, including a wicked five-hole shot. Rasmus Ekström and Owen Martin also added goals to the frenzy. It was pure offensive chaos!
Andrew Cristall, the WHL's regular season scoring champ, was held pointless in Game 1, but he more than made up for it with two assists. His line with Catton and Shea Van Olm was untouchable in that first period. Van Olm even chipped in a goal himself. By the end of the first, it was 4-1 Spokane – a complete shift in momentum.
Medicine Hat Fights Back, But Spokane Holds Strong
Medicine Hat didn’t roll over, though. In the second period, 2025 NHL Draft prospect Bryce Pickford scored a power-play goal, making it 4-2. His powerful shot from the point was a thing of beauty. The Tigers kept pushing, even hitting the post on a shot that looked like it went in, only for the refs to overturn it after a review. That was a tough break for Medicine Hat.
Despite a furious third-period push, the Tigers couldn’t replicate their previous playoff comebacks. Spokane’s defense was solid, and goalie Dawson Cowan was a brick wall, making 19 saves. Spokane added two more goals in the third; Preston added his ninth goal of the playoffs, and Catton completed his hat trick. Game over.
Series Tied: The Battle Continues
That win snapped Medicine Hat’s incredible 11-game win streak. Both coaches – Spokane’s Brad Lauer and Medicine Hat’s Willie Desjardins – gave credit where it was due. Lauer pointed to Spokane's superior speed and intensity in that explosive first period. The series now heads to Spokane for Games 3 and 4. This is far from over! Get ready for an even more intense showdown. This WHL Championship is shaping up to be one for the ages.
Game 2 proved that this year's playoffs are anything but predictable. Spokane's dominant first period set the tone, and their team effort was too much for Medicine Hat to overcome. While the Tigers showed heart, the Chiefs’ performance secured a crucial win and a 1-1 series tie. The series shifts back to Spokane, and the anticipation is killer. What will happen next? We can't wait to find out!
