The Portland Winterhawks defeated the Seattle Thunderbirds, 5-2 on Saturday night. The victory snapped a streak of eight games in a row without a win. Portland’s last win came on October 9th, when the Winterhawks earned a 5-4 shootout victory against the Prince George Cougars. This Saturday also marked the second time these I-5 rivals had played this this season. In their last meeting, the Thunderbirds won 6-5 in regulation.
At the accesso ShoWare Center in Kent, Washington, it was the Winterhawks who would jump out to a quick start. Just 20 seconds into the action, Carter Sotheran would receive a pass in the offensive zone. Tiptoeing the blue line, Sotheran would wrist a shot towards the net. With a screen in front, the puck would soar past the glove of Thunderbirds goaltender Scott Ratzlaff, and strike the back of the net. Sotheran’s first goal of the year would give the Winterhawks the 1-0 lead.
Roughly seven minutes later, Portland would find themselves on the penalty kill. Kyle Chyzowski would pick up a loose puck at the blue line. From there, Chyzowski would skate up the ice, along the bench boards. Upon entering the offensive zone, the backchecking forward for Seattle would catch up to the puck. However, Chyzowski was able to shield them off and make an inside cut at the faceoff circle. Now in close, Chyzowski would settle the puck, and wrist a shot past Ratzlaff. Chyzowski’s short handed goal would be the last goal scored in the first period.
In the second period, Portland’s power-play would get the chance to go to work. Ryan Miller would hold the puck in the offensive zone for Portland. Miller would then pass the puck down to Diego Buttazzoni in the faceoff circle. Drawing defensemen over, Buttazoni would slide the puck back to Miller at the point. Miller would then one time the puck high toward the far post. Ratzlaff would have no time to react to the shot, and Miller’s power-play goal would extend the Winterhawks lead to 3-0.
A late goal by Kyren Gronick would make the score 3-1 headed into the third period. However, the Winterhawks would get another power-play chance at the start of the period. On the power-play, Buttazzoni would wrist a shot from just inside the faceoff circle. Ratzlaff would make the save, kicking the rebound out to his right. Unfortunately for Ratzlaff, the puck would bounce fast and out to Josh Zakreski at the opposite faceoff circle. Zakreski would corral the rebound, and fire the puck into a wide open net.
The Winterhawks would get one more Grade A scoring chance in the third period. Off an offensive zone faceoff, Jordan Duguay would snag the loose puck and skate down low. From below the faceoff circle, Duguay would look to the front of the net. Duguay would spot Kyle McDonough cutting to the net from the point. Patiently, Duguay waited, then slid the puck past a defenseman to McDonough. McDonough, from the top of the goal crease, would lift the puck towards the far post. The shot would beat Ratzlaff’s blocker and stay inside the post, giving Portland a 5-1 lead with 8:35 remaining in the period.
The Thunderbirds would find one last goal late in the game. With just under two minutes remaining in regulation, Antonio Martorana would strike on the power play. Martorana’s second goal of the season would cut the Winterhawks lead down to 5-2. However, Seattle would run out of time, and 5-2 would be the final score in Portland’s win.
The Winterhawks continue their three game road trip with a match on Saturday, November 9th, against the Wenatchee Wild. Puck drop is at 6:00 p.m.
Northwest Sports Desk 