2025 WHL Playoffs Preview: 1) Everett Silvertips Versus 8) Seattle Thunderbirds
Seattle Thunderbirds vs Everett Silvertips (Photo Credit: Brian Liesse/Seattle Thunderbirds/WHL)After a fierce season series, the Everett Silvertips and Seattle Thunderbirds will meet in the first round of the 2025 WHL Playoffs. These two division rivals last met in the playoffs back in 2018, when Everett defeated Seattle 4-1. This matchup is the only one in the Western Conference that will feature a division rivalry, as the other three will pit a U.S. Division team against one from the B.C. Division.
This series became closer as the season went on. The Silvertips and Thunderbirds split the final two games in February, with each match producing a maximum of four goals. While there was a 39-point gap between the two at the end of the season, Everett and Seattle know each other well, which could make this a close series.
On the Silvertips side, the big question is how their offence will look without Carter Bear. Everett's leading goal-scorer will be out for the rest of the year, as he suffered a reported lacerated Achilles late in the season. While the Silvertips have plenty of offensive weapons like Tyler MacKenzie, Austin Roest, Dominik Rymon, and Landon DuPont, not having Bear available will be a significant loss to the lineup.
For the Thunderbirds, one player to watch is goaltender Scott Ratzlaff. The Buffalo Sabres prospect has won three of his last four games and played a key role in Seattle's resurgence during the second half of the season. If Ratzlaff gets hot, it could lead to problems for Everett's offence.
This series could be one of the most intense of the first round, as there is tension not only on the ice but also in the stands. With the teams located less than an hour away from each other, there should be a large number of opposing fans at each game, which could result in back-and-forth cheering throughout the series. Overall, this should be a physical matchup as, based on the season series, it is clear that these two teams despise each other.
Prediction:
Everett in 5
Season Series:
Everett Wins 6-1-0-1
Scoring Leaders During Season Series:
Everett:
Carter Bear: 7 GP, 6 G, 5 A, 11 P
Landon DuPont: 8 GP, 3 G, 6 A, 9 P
Jesse Heslop: 8 GP, 3 G, 6 A, 9 P
Kaden Hammell: 7 GP, 2 G, 7 A, 9 P
Cole Temple: 8 GP, 2 G, 7 A, 9 P
Seattle:
Braeden Cootes: 8 GP, 5 G, 4 A, 9 P
Radim Mrtka: 7 GP, 0 G, 7 A, 7 P
Coster Dunn: 8 GP, 1 G, 4 A, 5 P
Nathan Pilling: 7 GP, 3 G, 1 A, 4 P
Brayden Schuurman: 5 GP, 2 G, 2 A, 4 P
Schedule:
Game 1: @ Everett, Friday, March 28, 7:05 PT
Game 2: @ Everett, Saturday, March 29, 6:05 PT
Game 3: @ Seattle, Tuesday, April 1, 7:05 PT
Game 4: @ Seattle, Friday, April 4, 7:05 PT
Game 5: @ Everett, Saturday, April 5, 6:05 PT
Game 6: @ Seattle, Monday, April 7, 7:05 PT
Game 7: @ Everett, Tuesday, April 8, 7:05 PT
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