PRINCE ALBERT, SK — The Everett Silvertips stole home-ice advantage on Tuesday night at the Art Hauser Centre, grinding out a gritty 3-2 win over the Prince Albert Raiders in Game 3 of the 2026 WHL Championship Final. Silvertips forward Julius Miettinen supplied the game-winning goal as Everett clawed to a 2-1 series lead. The next game of the Ed Chynoweth Cup is Wednesday night at 6:30 PM PT — same building, same hostile crowd — and the Silvertips now have the pressure.
The Rudolph Factor
The storyline going into Game 3 was the suspension of Raiders defenseman Daxon Rudolph, one of Prince Albert’s most important offensive contributors and one of the top NHL draft prospects in this year’s class. The TSN-reported one-game ban took a key weapon off the Raiders’ blue line — and the Silvertips made them pay.
Rudolph had been a presence all series for the Raiders, and losing him for a road game in a building that’s become a Silvertips fortress was a serious blow to Prince Albert’s chances. Whether the suspension carries over to Game 4 will be worth watching closely heading into Wednesday’s matchup.
Miettinen: The Finnish Record-Setter
Julius Miettinen continues to write himself into WHL playoff history. The Silvertips forward has now set the record for the most playoff points by a Finnish player in WHL history — a remarkable accomplishment for a player operating at peak level in the biggest games of the year.
His game-winning goal on Tuesday was another chapter in what has been an incredible 2026 playoff run. In a tight game that could have gone either way, Miettinen came up with the decisive marker. That’s what elite players do. That’s why the Silvertips are in this series.
The WHL also honored Miettinen in the WHL Championship Edition of its Weekly Awards — recognition that came alongside defenseman Brock Cripps of the Raiders and Silvertips goaltender Anders Miller. Even in a week where Everett won a game, the league acknowledged how good both teams have been.
Miller on the Road
The Art Hauser Centre in Prince Albert holds roughly 2,800 fans and it gets loud. Really loud. The Raiders faithful showed up expecting to see their team take a 2-1 series lead, and instead watched Anders Miller stand them up.
Miller came into Game 3 with a .936 playoff save percentage across 13 playoff games — the best playoff numbers in WHL history for a goalie who has played that many games. He had already gone 8-0 on the road in these playoffs before Tuesday, and he backed it up again at the Art Hauser. Silvertips fans have spent all spring watching Miller make impossible saves in impossible buildings, and it’s starting to feel inevitable.
This is now a 15-2 playoff record for the Silvertips. They have lost exactly two games in two months of playoff hockey.
How the Series Looks Now
The series narrative has shifted decisively. Here’s where things stand:
- Game 1 (May 8, AOTW): Raiders 4, Silvertips 2 — Orsulak and Cootes stole home ice
- Game 2 (May 9, AOTW): Silvertips 6, Raiders 2 — Miettinen’s 4-point night, Bear twice
- Game 3 (May 12, Art Hauser): Silvertips 3, Raiders 2 — Miettinen GWG, road steal
- Game 4 (May 13, Art Hauser): Wednesday 6:30 PM PT — series 2-1 Everett
- Game 5 (if needed, May 15, Art Hauser): 6:30 PM PT
- Games 6/7 (if needed, May 17/18, AOTW): Back home in Everett
The Silvertips now have a chance to go up 3-1 with a win Wednesday. A 3-1 series lead in the WHL Final would be historically close to insurmountable. But the Raiders will be desperate, they’ll have their fans behind them, and — presumably — Daxon Rudolph may be back in the lineup. This isn’t over.
What It Means
The Silvertips last won the Ed Chynoweth Cup in 2007. That’s 19 years. This team — 57-8-2-1 in the regular season, 15-2 in the playoffs — is the best Everett team since then. Maybe the best ever. And they just took the lead in the WHL Final on the road, in a building they’ve never played a game in before this week, against a team that had home ice advantage.
Two more wins. That’s all that stands between this group and the Cup.
How to Watch Game 4
Game 4: Wednesday May 13 — Art Hauser Centre, Prince Albert, SK
Puck drop: 7:30 PM MT / 6:30 PM PT
TV: TSN (Canada) | Streaming: Victory+ (U.S.)
Games 5 (if needed) also at Art Hauser on May 15. Games 6 and 7 (if needed) return to Angel of the Winds Arena on May 17 and 18.
If you’re making plans for a potential Game 6 or 7 at Angel of the Winds Arena, tickets are available at Ticketmaster. The building at 2000 Hewitt Ave in Everett holds 10,000+ fans for hockey — and if this series goes back home, it’s going to be electric.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current series score in the 2026 WHL Championship Final?
After Game 3, the Everett Silvertips lead the Prince Albert Raiders 2-1 in the best-of-seven series.
When is WHL Final Game 4?
Game 4 is Wednesday, May 13 at Art Hauser Centre in Prince Albert. Puck drop is 7:30 PM MT (6:30 PM PT). Watch on TSN in Canada or Victory+ in the U.S.
Why was Daxon Rudolph suspended for Game 3?
Rudolph received a one-game WHL suspension that was first reported by TSN. The specifics of the infraction were not disclosed, but it kept the Raiders’ top defensive prospect out of Tuesday’s game.
Who scored the game-winning goal in Silvertips Game 3?
Julius Miettinen scored the game-winning goal for the Silvertips in the 3-2 win.
What is Anders Miller’s WHL playoff save percentage?
Miller entered Game 3 with a .936 save percentage across 13 playoff games — the best playoff SV% in WHL history for a goalie with that many games played.
Related coverage: Tips Even the Series With 6-2 Game 2 Win | Anders Miller’s Road Test | WHL Final Heads to Prince Albert: Full Schedule
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