The Portland Winterhawks took care of business over the weekend in a big way as they kept pace with US Division leading Everett Silvertips.
The weekend started off against longtime rival Seattle Thunderbirds where Oliver Bjorkstrand, single-handed, scored enough goals on his own to cover the Winterhawks win. Oliver scored four goals in the contest as Portland hammered the Thunderbirds by a score of 7-1. Nic Petan added 4 assists in the game and Adin Hill kept closing the door every time there was even a remote threat. With the goals, Oliver Bjorkstrand broke the Portland Winterhawks record for consecutive games with a goal at 12. The record, set back in 1976-77 by Tony Currie, is one that will probably be safe for quite a while. Oliver’s four goals gave him 51 goals in 50 games, the first time that at least 50 goals in 50 games has happened since the 2011-12 season when Emerson Etem, now with the NHL Anaheim Ducks, accomplished the feat. Unlike Currie, who was a great junior hockey player but never made the NHL, Bjorkstrand is showing what a steal he was in the third round of the 2013 NHL Draft by the Columbus Blue Jackets. Oliver should be a strong contender for top WHL awards at the end of the season.
The following night, it was the Tri-City Americans who paid a visit to the Moda Center. Though the Americans kept pace for the first two periods, the Winterhawks once again proved their firepower with three unanswered goals in the third period. Paul Bittner took the lead from Oliver Brorkstrand as he netted a hat trick along with two assists in the game. Bjorkstrand was held to just two assists in the game, though the team tried on several occasions to set him up for a goal to continue the streak. It was a tough end for Bjorkstrand as the time was winding down and in an attempt to position himself for one last flurry, made contact with the Tri-City netminder and took an interference penalty which would end his night.
Portland remains four points back of Everett for the US Division lead, but has two games in hand. The Hawks will play Everett for the final time on Wednesday, before a crush of games on the weekend which will see them play in Spokane on Friday, at home versus the suddenly hot Prince George Cougars and then versus Spokane at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum on Sunday. Portland will also do another three games in three nights as the regular season comes to a close.
With his one assist on Sunday, Oliver Bjorkstrand now sits at 97 points after 51 games, just three points from the top spot in the scoring race and looks to be in contention to overtake the lead possibly this week. His scoring pace could put him ahead of Trevor Cox, who currently sits in top spot in the points race as early as Wednesday night.
It’s still too early to tell where the final playoff picture will be, but most are seeing a potential Portland versus Seattle matchup in the first round. That may change if Portland can steal away top spot from Everett, and then Portland will play the low wild card team, which is currently the Tri-City Americans.
Following this coming weekend’s games, there should be a clearer picture in the playoff hunt, but that’s what makes the final rush so exciting.
Ice Chips:
Portland will start the playoff games the week of their last regular season game. Though schedules haven’t been posted yet, Portland will have to either start on Thursday, March 26 at the Moda Center and compete for fans on Friday with the Portland Thunder or Saturday with the Trail Blazers. In any weekend games for the time being, the Winterhawks will have to play at Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
