The final four teams that are vying for a shot at the WHL finals and a spot in the Memorial Cup are underway. They are definitely worthy of their place in the semifinals.
Out east, it appears the Calgary Hitmen will have more than just their work cut out for them. Following their last two hard fought series, injuries have put them at a major disadvantage and now a suspension to one of their top forwards has made their task increasingly difficult.
Game one saw the Hitmen and the Eastern Division leading Brandon Wheat Kings tied at two goals apiece early in the second period, when the Wheat Kings exploded for three successive goals to blow the game wide open. Things took a very rough turn with sixty minutes in penalties called the rest of the game and Calgary found that the next goal they scored, Brandon would counter with four more. Calgary would finish the scoring with a shorthanded goal in an ugly 9-4 loss. During all the fracas, Calgary coach Mark French was ejected from the game and later assessed a $1,000 fine from the league for his actions as he headed toward the dressing room. Later that evening, Calgary forward Jake Virtanen was given a suspension by the league under supplemental discipline for a penalty assessed during the third period. Originally given a two minute minor for charging by the on ice officials, Brandon claimed the infraction was more serious as the player hit did not return to the game. Virtanen would sit out game two and the situation would be readdressed late on Monday. Mack Shields started the game in goal for Calgary giving up four goals on nineteen shots, while Brendan Burke would give up five goals on twenty-two shots in relief. Jordan Papirny would give up four goals on thirty-eight shots as the Brandon Wheat Kings blew out the Hitmen 9-4.
Game two in Brandon would be a far different affair as only three penalties would be called all game. The shot variance was huge as Brandon exploded for 46 shots in the contest compared to just 24 for Calgary. This time, Brendan Burke was a workhorse in net as he kept the Hitmen in the game and would be named the second star of the game. Brandon once again took the lead with two goals on eighteen shots in the first period, before Calgary was able to answer back with one of their own toward the end of the period. The game stayed that way until early in the third period when Calgary was able to tie it up at 2. Despite the overwhelming shot disadvantage, the Hitmen would take this game into overtime. However, just 51 seconds in, Brandon, which registered the only 2 shots of the frame, was able to convert one of them and seal a 3-2 overtime win. Brandon leads the series 2-0 and heads to Calgary for games three and four on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Out west, the Conference Final is shaping up to be a duel the way playoffs are supposed to be. In each game, the scores mirrored each other and so did the first four goals. The Kelowna Rockets faced the Portland Winterhawks in Portland’s fifth consecutive trip to the Western Conference Final and fans were treated to incredible hockey in the first two games.
In game one, Oliver Bjorkstrand started things off early with a goal just 35 seconds into the game on a shot that eluded Kelowna goaltender Jackson Whistle. Portland would add another as Adam Henry would collect the puck at the left point and fired through traffic to give Portland a 2-0 lead. Portland would head to the power play early in the second, but Kelowna defenseman Madison Bowey stripped the puck from the power play walked in and fired over top of the glove of Adin Hill to cut the Portland lead. It seemed then that Portland feel on its heels as Kelowna would score less than a minute later when the puck was initially stopped by the post but hit Adin Hill’s skate and slid into the net and finished the scoring midway through the second period. Heroics by Portland goaltender Adin Hill kept the Hawks chances open, but lack of finish by the rest of the team gave then Rockets the win. It was the Winterhawks’ ninth straight series where they lost the opening game. In an odd twist, the Winterhawks were 8-0 in the second game of the series.
Game two started in similar fashion with the Hawks taking the lead in the first period. While on the power play, Paul Bittner was able to connect on a feed by Chase De Leo into the open net to give the visitors a 1-0 lead. Midway through the second period, Evan Weinger was able to force his way into the Kelowna zone, where Miles Koules took over from behind the net and passed to Dominic Turgeon just four feet from the net and he made no mistake and Portland would take a 2-0 lead. Penalty trouble hit the Hawks again and allowed the Rockets to come back. While Miles Koules was off for holding, the Rockets power play set up in the Portland zone where Rourke Chartier would be in all alone in front to bang home Kelowna’s first goal. Just a couple minutes later, the Hawks would be without Oliver Bjorkstrand on a penalty for checking from behind and again the Rockets would capitalize. Dillon Dube would get the puck following a scramble and despite Hill’s outstretched body, was able to get the puck over top and tie the game at two. Towards the end of the period, Oliver Bjorkstrand freed Nic Petan who took a trick play as a spinorama around the defensemen and fired the puck backhanded against the leg pad of Jackson Whistle. Whistle was unable to put the leg against the post and the puck slid off the pad into the net. There is no doubt that this goal will be on the highlight reel for the playoffs.
Kelowna would put on incredible pressure throughout the third period but couldn’t solve Adin Hill and Portland split the first two games with a 3-2 win. The series now shifts to Portland on Tuesday and Wednesday for games three and four at the Moda Center.
Ice Chips: The Portland Winterhawks Booster Club and Portland Winterhawks mascot TomAHawk were the highlights of the 9th Annual 82nd Avenue Parade of Roses this past weekend. The group handed out posters and other giveaways along the two mile route. The group won the Community Spirit Award for the second straight year.
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