EVERETT, Wash. — Jesper Vikman stopped 50 shots to record the shutout as the Vancouver Giants took a 3-2 series lead over the Everett Silvertips in their first-round WHL playoff series with a 3-0 victory Saturday.

Adam Hall scored the game-winning goal for Vancouver at the 10:42 mark of the first period and insurance brought on by Fabian Lysell and Connor Horning in the third.

Everett outshot Vancouver 50-31, but Vikman proved too tall an obstacle for any of the Silvertips skaters to overcome.

The Silvertips topped the WHL's Western Conference this season with 45 wins and 100 points. By comparison, the Giants snuck into the playoffs with just 24 wins and 53 points this season.

It's been a rough go from the get go for top-seeded Everett. Vancouver stole Game 1 with a 5-4 overtime victory. And even after the Silvertips came back to take a 2-1 series lead, the Giants responded again with two straight wins of their own.

Vancouver will go for the series upset in Game 6 back home on Monday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 30, 2022.