The toughest schedule for the Portland Winterhawks was this week and again next week as they play a 4 game in 5 nights tour of US Division teams with one BC Division team thrown in for good measure.
It started with the Hawks facing the US Division leading Everett Silvertips in Everett and spanking them by a 6-1 score. Portland came out flying in the game, though Everett would score first, but it would be all they’d get. The Winterhawks seemed to never take their foot off the gas in the mauling that followed. Keoni Texiera would open the barrage for Portland, Adam Henry scored twice and Oliver Bjorkstrand would add another to send starting goaltender Carter Hart from the net midway through the second period. In relief, Austin Lotz didn’t fare much better as Nic Petan added a goal and a couple helpers and Oliver Bjorkstrand would complete the scoring.
Perhaps they used too much of their gas as the next matchup put them in Spokane to face the Chiefs. Right out of the gate, Spokane bombarded the Hawks with physical beatings and scored three goals, one shorthanded, one on the power play and one at regular strength to carry the play. The second period was a complete opposite as Anton Cederholm scored midway through the frame with Oliver Bjorkstrand scoring near the end of the period on the power play to make it a one goal game. Early in the third period, Portland tied it up with a goal by Chase De Leo and it appeared that the game would swing Portland’s way. Midway through the third period, Chase De Leo took a slashing penalty and Spokane scored on the ensuing power play to take the lead. With Portland pulling their netminder for six attackers. Adam Henry, who appeared to have had issues with his skates all night long, lost his footing again and took a tripping penalty in the attack zone. The ensuing power play for Spokane and empty net for Portland, desperate to tie it up, allowed the Chiefs to break free and score the empty net goal to take the game 5-3. Portland went 1 for 4 on the power play, while Spokane’s 3 for 7 and 1 shorthanded goal sunk the Hawks.
Portland had no time to recover as they headed home that night with the Prince George Cougars waiting for them at Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Evan Johnson would get a rare start in net for the Winterhawks and performed as best he could as the team would be shelled for shots during the game. Miles Koules would open the scoring for Portland on the power play just over two minutes in and would hold that 1-0 lead into the second. Chase Witala would even the score just 40 seconds into the second, but Portland would counter, scoring twice in just over four minutes before Prince George took back the momentum. In the third, three goals by Prince George, including the second of the night by Witala gave the Cougars the lead. Portland seemed to be on the ropes until the heroics of Oliver Bjorkstrand took over. With his league leading 56th goal of the season, Portland tied it at 6 and the teams settled nothing in overtime. To the shootout the teams went with Portland unable to lift the puck over the pad of Ty Edmonds and two saves by Evan Johnson, left Zach Pochiro as the last man in the round to shoot. He made no mistake with a shot through the pads to give Prince George a 6-5 Shootout win.
The next evening it was a return of the Spokane Chiefs and a Deja Vu of the game in Spokane earlier. With 3 goals to start the first period and a fourth early in the second including a pair by Liam Stewart (son of legendary rocker Rod Stewart) on the power play and shorthanded, the Hawks dug themselves a huge hole. Portland took a timeout to calm the troops and it seemed to have the desired effect. Oliver Bjorkstrand was hauled down and missed on an ensuing penalty shot, however, Portland defensemen Layne Viveiros and Keoni Texiera, along with Chase De Leo, scored goals less than six minutes apart to force Spokane coach Don Nachbaur to call a timeout of his own. Liam Stewart would come out the timeout with his third of the night while shorthanded and Spokane led after two periods 5-3. Portland would rely on the heroics of Oliver Bjorkstrand as he scored once and assisted twice as Anton Cederholm, Paul Bittner and Keegan Iverson would add goals to the cause and in dramatic fashion, the Winterhawks had come from behind 8-6 win.
Portland now sits two points behind US Division leading Everett Silvertips with a game in hand which they will use against the Spokane Chiefs on Wednesday. Following that game, Portland plays in Tri City and Seattle before ending the regular season at home against Tri City. Everett meanwhile, will play a home and home series with Victoria Royals followed by a trip to Spokane to face the Chiefs. Everett can win no more than two games while Portland can only afford one loss if the Winterhawks have any hope of taking the US Division.
On the scoring charts, Oliver Bjorkstrand has finally broken through the leadership of the scoring title. Bjorkstrand now sits at 108 points with 57 goals, 51 assists leading Trevor Cox by three points. Oliver has done this in just 55 games. Trevor Cox from Medicine Hat Tigers at 105 and Tim McGauley from Brandon Wheat Kings at 103 points have done theirs in 66 and 69 games respectively. The Winterhawks have a game in hand on both of these teams and will give Bjorkstrand more chances to put additional distance on the title. Nic Petan sits in seventh spot with 85 points and Chase De Leo is sixteenth with 78 points. Only the Medicine Hat Tigers have as many players in the top 20 scorers as Portland.
Ice Chips: The Winterhawks have announced the dates, venues and times for their first two home playoff games. Portland will open their first round series against an as yet unknown opponent at Veterans Memorial Coliseum on Saturday, March 28 with a start time of 6PM to attempt to avoid the crush of people also attending the Portland Trail Blazers game at the Moda Center. The Winterhawks will shift to the Moda Center on Sunday, March 29 with a 5pm start time. The Hawks will face either Spokane Chiefs if they finish first in the US Division, or the Seattle Thunderbirds if they remain in second.
The final regular season game for Portland will be Sunday, March 22 at Veterans Memorial Coliseum. The Winterhawks will hand out its awards prior to the start of the game. The Booster Club will present the Donald D Ickes Memorial Booster Club Most Popular Player of the Year award.
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