The Victoria Royals will need a win tonight in Spokane to keep their Western Hockey League (WHL) playoff hopes alive.
Facing elimination, the Royals trail the Chiefs 3-2 in their second-round series after back-to-back home losses. Game 6 is set for Tuesday, with puck drop at 7:05 p.m. at the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena.
Victoria had taken a 2-1 series lead with a 4-3 win on April 16, but momentum has swung firmly in Spokane’s favour.
The Chiefs exploded for a 9-6 win on Friday, then completed a dramatic 5-4 overtime comeback Saturday night at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre.
Spokane trailed 3-1 entering the third period of Game 5 but stormed back with four unanswered goals – capped by Andrew Cristall’s overtime winner – to push Victoria to the brink.
The Chiefs poured on the pressure late, firing 32 shots across the third period and overtime. Goaltender Dawson Cowan made 23 saves, including four in OT.
Chiefs forwards Berkly Catton, Shea Van Olm, and Cristall continued their dominant run, combining for eight points in the comeback.
Cristall, a Washington Capitals prospect, notched a goal and three assists. Catton, the Seattle Kraken’s first-round pick in 2024, added a goal and two helpers, while Van Olm scored twice.
That trio has been nearly unstoppable this postseason, combining for 66 points through Spokane’s 10 playoff games – all ranking among the WHL’s top 10 scorers.
Victoria will look to respond behind standout forward Cole Reschny, who is tied for the league lead in playoff scoring, tallying 25 points in 10 games.
The 18-year-old, named WHL Player of the Week for April 14-20, has yet to be held off the scoresheet and has recorded three or more points in four games.
Special teams could prove crucial. The Royals’ power play has clicked at 40 per cent, while their penalty kill leads all playoff teams at 81.6 per cent. Spokane, meanwhile, has struggled short-handed, posting a league-low 64.9 per cent success rate on the penalty kill.
Victoria has gone 12-for-21 with the man-advantage in the series – accounting for more than half their total goals.
If the Royals force a Game 7, it will be played Wednesday night in Spokane.
Also tonight, the Everett Silvertips and Portland Winterhawks meet in Game 7 of their Western Conference semifinal. The winner will face either Spokane or Victoria in the conference finals.
In the East, the Medicine Hat Tigers – led by 2026 top NHL Draft prospect Gavin McKenna – swept the Prince Albert Raiders and await the winner of Wednesday’s Game 7 between the Calgary Hitmen and Lethbridge Hurricanes.
