Getting into the playoffs as the number one overall seed means more than bragging rights and the Scotty Munro Trophy. With the talent level of the Winterhawks, the Tri-City Americans, and the Kamloops Blazers so close, home ice could definitely decide which teams will be playing for the WHL crown, and which teams will be watching from home. Tri-City stands in first place after Sunday with their 5-1 win versus Seattle, while Portland fell in Everett 2-1 in overtime.
Even though Portland outshot the Silvertips 11-4 in the first period, and even with the benefit of two power play chances, the Hawks were unable to score against goaltender Kent Simpson. Cam Reid would breakthrough two minutes into the second off a pass from Brad Ross. The Hawks defense held firm, it looked like Mac Carruth would finish the game off. But Everett’s Joshua Wincrest scored with just over a minute left to play to tie the game. The dagger would be dealt one minute into overtime, when Everett center Ryan Harrison beat Carruth.
On Tuesday night, a Hawks win against Kamloops, coupled with a Tri-City loss versus Seattle, would give them the lead in the conference. A win would loom even larger going into Friday, when the Hawks play the Americans. Here is a position by position breakdown of tonight’s Portland/Kamloops matchup.
Center
Portland: Brendan Leipsic, Chase De Leo, Cam Reid, Taylor Peters, Pearce Eviston
Kamloops: Colin Smith, Matt Needham, Chase Schaber, Aspen Sterzer
The aggressive play and high skill level of Leipsic and De Leo have greatly helped out the Hawks all season long, and Reid has stepped up his scoring of late. Peters leads a strong checking line, but can play on the top lines just as well. Smith is a prolific scorer for the Blazers, but leads a very thin attacking unit.
Advantage: Portland
Wings
Portland: Ty Rattie, Sven Bartschi, Brad Ross, Oliver Gabriel, Marcel Noebels, Taylor Leier
Kamloops: Brendan Ranford, Tim Bozon, J.C. Lipon, Brandon Herrod, Dylan Willick
Scoring is the name of the game here. Rattie’s 104 points are well known, but no one steps up when he is needed most like Sven Bartschi. Ross, Gabriel and Noebels can score at a high rate as well. The Winterhawks have scored the most goals in the league, and these wingers are the reason why. Ranford and Bozon are good scorers, but are also great defenders, contributing to Kamloops’s stifling defense. But they rarely face such a high scoring team as the Hawks, and Rattie and Bartschi may be more than they can handle.
Advantage: Portland
Defense
Portland: Derrick Pouliot, Joe Morrow, Troy Rutkowski, Tyler Wotherspoon, William Wrenn, Josh Hanson
Kamloops: Austin Madaisky, Bronson Maschmeyer, Marek Hrbas, Tyler Hansen, Brady Gaudet, Tyler Bell
Morrow and Pouliot are third and fourth respectively in the league in scoring for defenseman. They are terrific passers, and can set up the wingers with great scoring opportunities. Their defense leaves something to be desired, as their combined +12 plus/minus shows. Madaisky and Maschmeyer (combined +52) may not score at the same pace, but the Blazers have only allowed 173 goals this season, second best in the conference, and their defense is a large part of that. The Hawks’ defenders can move the puck quickly out of their half of the ice. They will need to keep the scoring active.
Advantage: Kamloops
Goaltenders
Portland: Mac Carruth
Kamloops: Cole Cheveldave
The stats do not lie here. Cheveldave has better goals against average (2.55 to 2.88), better save percentage (91.2 to 90.8) and has four shutouts to Carruth’s two. Carruth has stepped up his game as the season has progressed, but Cheveldave has been a consistent winning factor for the Blazers.
Advantage: Kamloops
The Winterhawks will have to pressure the Blazers all night long, and play Coach Johnston’s fast attack style. The Hawks are rarely outshot in any game this season, and under the amount of pressure the attackers can deliver, the Hawks can win this game on home ice, and be in a good position to secure the top seed.
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