The Portland Winterhawks secured a 5-1 victory over the Vancouver Giants Friday night. This game ends a streak of nine straight road games for Portland. Over this nine-game road trip, the Winterhawks have gone 5-3-1. With the win over Vancouver, the Winterhawks are now on a five-game point streak and a three-game win streak.
The Winterhawks were dominant through the first half of the game at the Langley Events Centre in Langley, BC. In the first period, the Winterhawks were able to open up the scoring on the power play. With 8:39 remaining in the first period, Luca Cagnoni would receive a pass at the offensive blue line. With two defenders looming, Cagnoni would feather a pass down low to Josh Davies at the bottom of the faceoff circle. Davies then turned and saw Gabe Klassen encroaching from the point. Davies’ pass to Klassen led him towards the opposite faceoff circle, and Klassen would wrist a shot past the glove of Vancouver goaltender, Brett Wirwald, to put Portland up 1-0.
The Winterhawks would score a second goal late in the period to help extend their lead as well. In the final minute of the period, the Giants were on the power play. However, as the puck was swung around the boards, it would eventually fall into the possession of Gabe Klassen at the blue line. Klassen had space through center ice to turn the play into a 2-on-1 short-handed rush. Klassen would hold the puck, then make a late pass across to James Stefan. Stefan would one-time the pass over the leg of Wirwald, and give Portland a 2-0 lead with just under 15 seconds remaining in the period.
Portland’s second period was even stronger than their first, as the Winterhawks outshot the Giants 21-5 in the second frame. Portland would extend their lead on the power-play as well, roughly midway through the period. Carter Sotheran passed the puck back to Marcus Nguyen toward the boards. Nguyen then moved the puck down low to Josh Zakreski who was just above goal line extended. Zakreski moved towards the front of the net, then slid to his backhand, and lifted a shot towards the far post. Wirwald was unable to get his glove on the shot, and the Winterhawks would advance to a 3-0 lead with 12:36 remaining in the period.
With just under two minutes remaining in the second period, Portland’s offense would find yet another goal. This time off the faceoff, Kyle Chyzowski would corral the puck and pass it to the far point. Ryder Thompson would be there to receive the pass, and he would then move up toward the top of the faceoff circle. Thompson would force the defender in front of the net to prepare for a shot block, then pass the puck behind his skates. On the doorstep of the goal was Gabe Klassen, who would quickly redirect Thompson pass behind the leg of Wirwald and into the net, giving the Winterhawks a 4-0 lead.
The third period was much more tightly contested, with both teams putting up 13 shots on goal. However, the Winterhawks offense quickly ripped away any momentum the Giants had with a goal in the first 47 seconds of the final period. With Vancouver on the power play, space opened up for both the Giants and the Winterhawks to get odd-man rushes. After Vancouver’s odd-man rush was foiled by a great defensive poke check, Klassen and Stefan began to race the other way. Stefan would carry the puck up the left side boards. As he entered the offensive zone, Stefan would cut toward the middle and drop the puck back for Klassen. Klassen, from the top of the faceoff circle, would immediately pass the puck between defenders and back to Stefan. Stefan would then lift his wrist shot past the glove of the sliding goalkeeper, and find the back of the net to score a fifth straight goal for Portland.
Vancouver would answer back towards the midway point of the period. After fanning on a slap shot at the point, the Giants found themselves on a 3-1 odd-man rush. Aaron Obobaifo carried the puck up the left side and entered the offensive zone. Obobaifo played patient and drew in the Winterhawks defender, just inside the faceoff circle. Obobaifo then slid a pass back to center, where Kyren Gronick would have time and space to shoot. Gronick’s shot would zip over Jan Špunar’s leg, but stay under his glove, and put the Giants on the board with 12:18 remaining.
However, the Giants’ offense couldn’t find another goal, and Vancouver would run out of time. The Winterhawks would cruise through the rest of the period to earn a 5-1 victory.
The Winterhawks return home for their next game Friday, Nov. 17. Portland will play host to the Prince Albert Raiders for the first and only time this regular season. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m.
Northwest Sports Desk 