Portland WinterHawks Playoff Preview

Portland WinterhawksOnly 13 games remain in the season for the WinterHawks.  The 2011-2012 season could be regarded as successful almost entirely across the board.  With a 5-3 win at home against Tri-City on the 15th of February, and a 4-1 win against Everett on the 17th, the Hawks have taken first place in the Western Conference’s U.S. Division for the first time this season.  Mac Carruth set a WinterHawks record for wins in the win against Everett, breaking Brent Belecki’s mark.  Ty Rattie scored his 50th goal, and his 100th point of the season against Prince George last night, the first WinterHawk to 100 points since Todd Robinson in 1997-1998, the year the WinterHawks won the Memorial Cup.

However, the season is not over, and the playoffs loom large.  No matter what is accomplished during the season, it hardly matters if the Memorial Cup is not brought back to Portland.  Fifteen other teams will compete for the title.  Here is a look at Western Conference teams Portland may have to face on the road to the championship.

Kamloops Blazers (41-14-1, 1st in Conference, season series tied 1-1)

Key Players: RW Brendan Ranford (76 points), C Colin Smith (69 points, Plus/Minus of +30), LW J.C. Lipon (54 points, 85 Penalty minutes)

Goaltender: Cole Cheveldave (2.56 GAA, 28-9, 4 SO, 91.2 save pct)

Analysis: No team is more defensively minded than the Kamloops Blazers.  Their 163 goals allowed are the second best in the league.  While they do not have a true star player or superstar scorer, the entire team contributes on a regular basis, and anyone can step up any night, making them a matchup nightmare.  Winger J.C. Lipon is essentially Brad Ross with a better temper, and will draw aggression early, setting up power-play opportunities.  The WinterHawks will need to score early and often to offset the defensive minded Blazers.

Tri-City Americans (40-15-1, 3rd in Conference, Americans lead season series 5-3)

Key Players: C Brendan Shimminin (96 points), LW Adam Hughesman (89 points), LW Justin Feser (63 points)

Goaltender: Ty Rimmer (2.44 GAA, 23-10, 5 SO, 92.2 save pct)

Analysis: This team is easily the biggest threat to the WinterHawks in the Western Conference.  They have proven this fact all year long.  Rimmer is a frighteningly efficient goaltender, Feser and defenseman Drydn Dow get under the skin of Brad Ross and Joe Morrow every time they are together on the ice, and Hughesman and Shimminin can light the lamp at will.  The Americans have the advantage in net, with Rimmer having an MVP-type season, and the pesky defenders have done a good job of keeping Rattie in check.  The WinterHawks will need home ice advantage for this series, or this will get ugly.

Vancouver Giants (35-22-1, 4th place in conference, Giants won season series 3-1)

Key Players: RW Brendan Gallagher (68 points), C Cain Franson (52 points, +22), D Wes Vannieuwenhuizen (9 points, 141 penalty minutes)

Goaltender: Adam Morrison (2.65 FAA, 31-13, 0 SO, 90.7 save pct)

Analysis:  Some teams wins with high scoring.  Some teams win through defensive perseverance.  Some teams win just by being more aggressive and dangerous than the others.  The Giants are that kind of team.  No team has been penalized more this season than the Giants, and no team in the Western Conference is even close.  Six players have been suspended by the league, including winger Marek Tvrdon twice.  The team’s gameplan seems to be “get in fights, push one goal in, let Morrison bail us out”.  Morrison has been an amazing netminder this season, working with a team without a skater over 70 points.  The WinterHawks can, and have, fallen into their trap before.  If they want to win, they cannot do it again.

Arrow to top