The Portland Winterhawks started their February with a 2-1 loss at home to the Victoria Royals. This was just the second meeting between Portland and Victoria this season. Their first meeting was back on October 4th, which was the Winterhawks home season opener. The Winterhawks would win that game by a score of 5-3. Portland has two more games scheduled against the Royals. Those games are back to back in Victoria on Feb. 28, and March 1st.
The Winterhawks took to the ice in their Hawks Fight Cancer uniforms hoping to bounce back from a 7-2 loss to Medicine Hat the night prior. The first period showed how this game was quickly developing into a goaltender duel. Jayden Kraus was a perfect nine for nine on saves for Victoria. Meanwhile, Ondrej Štěbeták opened just as strong, saving all six shots on goal for Portland.
It wouldn’t be until the second period that the first goal of the game would be scored. Almost eight minutes into period two, the Winterhawks would hold puck possession in the offensive zone. Diego Buttazzoni would cycle towards the blue line, and find Tyson Jugnauth open along the far side boards. Jugnauth would then slide to his right, and wrist a shot towards the net. Josh Zakreski while battling for position in front, would deflect the puck down and past the left leg pad of Kraus. Zakreski would earn his 30th goal of the season, and the Winterhawks would take a 1-0 lead.
Štěbeták would make a breakaway save at the end of the second period, keeping the Winterhawks in the lead. However, it was a busy third period for Štěbeták, as Portland was out shot 12 to 5 in the final 20 minutes of play. The applied pressure would work for the Royals as well. Just over seven minutes into the final period, Victoria would break through the neutral zone with pace. Cole Reschny would wrap around the net, and pass the puck right to the front of the crease. Teydon Trembecky would reach over to corral the puck. Then, Trembecky would cross over to his backhand, stretching past the left leg of Štěbeták. From there, it was an easy tuck in for Trembecky’s 29th goal of the year, and the Royals would tie the game at 1-1.
The eventual game winning goal would come with 8:36 remaining in regulation. Victoria would hold the puck in the neutral zone. Then off a line change, the Royals looked to break through the Winterhawks defense. Justin Kipkie would receive a pass along the penalty box boards. Kipie would then drop a pass towards the center, for Kenta Isogai to pick up with speed. Isogai would enter the offensive zone, and cut across a back checking Alex Weiermair. Nearly losing the puck, Isogai would reach and pull the puck back in for a wrist shot from between faceoff circles. The shot would race over the glove of Štěbeták, and hit the back of the net, giving Victoria a 2-1 lead.
The Winterhawks would pull the goalie late in the period, but their offense wouldn’t be able to find another breakthrough. The 2-1 score line would hold, and the Royals would jump up to the #2 seed in the Western Conference.
Portland’s next game is Friday, Feb. 7. when the Winterhawks travel to Vancouver for a matchup against the Giants, who are three points behind Portland in the standings. Puck drop is at 7:00 p.m., at the Langley Events Centre.
Northwest Sports Desk 