The Portland Winterhawks fell to the Tri-City Americans in their home season finale by a score of 4-2 Friday night. With the result, Portland finished the regular season series 3-1-2 against the Americans, and 19-14-1 at home this year. The Winterhawks had already locked themselves into the postseason as the Western Conference #5 seed, thanks to a victory over the Vancouver Giants the weekend prior. Meanwhile, Tri-City was still fighting for playoff positioning. They entered Friday night’s contest trailing the Vancouver Giants by three points in the standings.
In the first period, Portland played fast and tallied 17 shots on goal. However, it was the Americans would earn the first mark of the game. Late in the first period, Tri-City would hold the offensive zone. Max Curran would pass down to Brandon Whynott along the boards. Whynott looked to then center the puck, but their attempt would deflect off the skate of Kayd Ruedig. The puck would then slide through the center of the zone towards the point, where it would be corralled by Jackson Smith. Smith then wound up a wrist shot from the top of the faceoff circle. The shot would scream low and around the glove of Portland goaltender Ondrej Štěbeták, staying inside the far post. With exactly three minutes left in the opening period, Smith’s goal would give Tri-City a 1-0 lead.
Then early into the second period, the Americans would extend their lead. With 18:34 on the clock, Carter MacAdams would skate to the middle of the offensive zone with the puck. Playing patient, MacAdams would eventually wrist a shot that would ricochet off a stick and go high over the net. However, the puck would bounce hard off the glass behind the goal, and fall back inside the crease. On it’s way down, the puck would bounce off the leg of Tyson Jugnauth, and sneak past the pads of Štěbeták. MacAdams’s 18th goal of the year would jump Tri-City’s lead up to 2-0.
The Winterhawks offense knew they had to find a way to respond and continued to work away at Tri-City, as they outs-shot the Americans 11-2 in the next seven minutes of action. However, Americans goaltender, Ryan Grout, was having a night. Multiple shots from the Winterhawks went right to the chest of Grout, who would not allow for any rebound attempts.
Unfortunately for Portland, Tri-City would find a third goal with 15:59 remaining in the third period. The Americans would pass the puck around the perimeter on a 4-on-3 power-play. Eventually, the puck would come to Jackson Smith at the point, who would shift a pass over to Savin Virk. Virk, with some momentum, would skate towards the top of the faceoff circle. From there, Virk would wrist a shot high glove side on Štěbeták. The shot would stay inside the near post, and find the back of the net, giving Tri-City a 3-0 lead.
With time now working against them, the Winterhawks offense kicked things up another gear. With 10:41 to go in regulation, Kyle Chyzowski would pass the puck to Tyson Jugnauth, while he was cutting across the offensive zone towards the corner. Jugnauth would then turn and center a pass to Diego Buttazzoni alone in front of the net. Buttazzoni would snap a quick wrist shot five hole on Grout, and the Winterhawks would score their first goal of the game.
Then, 51 seconds later, Portland would strike again. A blue line to blue line pass from Kayd Ruedig to Josh Zakreski would get the Winterhawks through the neutral zone. Zakreski would then cross over into the offensive zone, and chip a lead pass to Ryan Miller. Miller, sprinting past the defense, would catch up to the puck and flick a shot high glove side. The puck would fly past the shoulder of Grout and stay under the crossbar. Miller’s 15th goal of the year would cut the lead for the Americans down to 3-2.
With the crowd reenergized, the Winterhawks offense started to force turnovers and win lose puck battles. However, Portland would give up an empty net goal off a blocked shot from the point with 33 seconds remaining in regulation. The goal would go to Max Curran, and Tri-City would hold on to win 4-2.
When asked about his thoughts on how the game played out, Tyson Jugnauth said he thought they played better than the result.
“We were on our toes all night, creating good chances,” Jugnauth said. “A couple bad bounces went our way. But we’ll take some positives, take the learning, and move on.”
Portland finished the regular season with another defeat, 5-4 in Kent, Washington at the hands of their I-5 rival, the Seattle Thunderbirds Saturday night. Portland is now set to begin a first round playoff series against the Prince George Cougars.
Northwest Sports Desk 