Whitlock, who learned playoff hockey from Brighton's state championship run as a sophomore, has embraced the team's "dog" mentality of sacrificing his body for the team. "I'm fine with taking one off the leg. It stings for a second, but it's better than one going in the back of the net," Whitlock said.
Coach Kurt Kivisto praised Whitlock's work ethic, noting he has elevated his game from his sophomore season when he primarily played a third-line role. "He's just really, really valuable for our team," Kivisto said. Brighton broke open a 1-1 game with four goals in an 8:13 span to secure the victory.