Washington Capitals prospect Andrew Cristall had another big night as his Spokane Chiefs became Western Conference champions for the first time since 2008.
Cristall scored twice, his 19th and 20th goals of the 2025 WHL Playoffs, to help push Spokane to a 6-4 victory in Game 4 over Portland, sweeping the Winterhawks in four games.
Cristall kicked off the scoring 7:26 into the first period, turning defense into offense.
The Capitals’ second-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft cleared a loose puck wobbling toward his own team’s goal line and then skated hard around the net. As another Winterhawks’ shot was blocked to the top of the zone, Cristall, all in one motion, gathered the puck in and sprang himself on a breakaway. The talented forward calmly faked a shot before going top shelf with his backhand.
Cristall, the WHL’s Player of the Month for April, found paydirt again with 3:51 remaining in the first period, scoring from the left circle on a power play to give Spokane a 2-1 lead.
Spokane would go on to win thanks to Owen Martin’s series-winning goal, his fifth of the postseason, with 3:11 remaining in the game. Shea Van Olm would add an empty-netter, his 11th of the playoffs, to make it 6-4. Cristall assisted on Van Olm’s tally, giving him three points on the night.
After the game, the Chiefs were awarded the Western Conference championship trophy, which team captain Berkly Catton accepted.
The Chiefs then took a team photo together on the ice.
Shortly after, “Bubble Cristall” was named the WHL’s player of the night for his three-point performance. Cristall has been wearing a full-face shield since mid-February when he took a high stick to the face against the Tri-City Americans, chipping several teeth.
Incredibly, Cristall scored in every game of the Western Conference finals, tallying seven goals in four games. His biggest night came in Game 2 when he scored his second hat trick of the 2025 WHL Playoffs.
Cristall is on an eight-game goal streak in the postseason, scoring 12 times during that span. He’s had six different multi-goal games and scored 20 goals in 14 total postseason games thus far.
The Chiefs will play the Medicine Hat Tigers in the WHL Championship Series. This is Spokane’s fifth trip to the WHL finals. They have not won the Ed Chynoweth Cup since 2008, when they also became Memorial Cup champions.
The Chiefs, per the WHL, have an all-time record of 2-2 in the league final.
