The Spokane Chiefs are just one win away from the WHL’s Western Conference Finals thanks to Capitals prospect Andrew Cristall.
Cristall scored the overtime winner in Game 5 against the Victoria Royals with just two seconds remaining in the extra frame. The goal, his 24th point (12g, 12a) in his ninth playoff game this year, put the Chiefs up 3-2 in their second-round series.
After Sage Weinstein fired a one-timer from the point, Cristall collected the rebound off the back boards and deposited a backhand behind goaltender Jayden Kraus.
The goal was Cristall’s fourth point (1g, 3a) in the win, and his line, also featuring Berkly Catton and Shea Van Olm, combined for nine points (4g, 5a). All three players are in the top 10 of WHL postseason scoring, with Cristall leading the whole league in points per game (2.67).
All three of Cristall’s assists in the game were primary assists, with the nicest coming to Van Olm with 2:58 gone in the third period. The marker was the second of three unanswered from the Chiefs in the third to force overtime.
Despite ending the game with his clutch goal and being the top scorer for either team, the home Royals did not make Cristall one of the Three Stars.
However, the league righted the wrong and named Cristall the WHL’s Top Performer of the Night.
Cristall finished the regular season as the WHL’s leading scorer, posting 132 points (48g, 84a) in 57 games. The 2024-25 campaign will be his final junior season, and he will likely join the AHL’s Hershey Bears as a playoff black ace once Spokane’s playoff run concludes.
