The Portland Winterhawks earn a 6-5 victory in Overtime against the Everett Silvertips this Wednesday night. This result comes off the back of a 3-1 victory by Portland just 24 hours prior. Both teams have had to play a lot of extra hockey this postseason. Portland and Everett have each had 5 playoff games this year go into overtime. Three of those games have come in this very series. With the win, the series now stands tied at two games a piece.
The Winterhawks once again would find a strong start at Veterans Memorial Coliseum, just 3:16 into the match. On a 3-on-3 rush, Max Pšenička would bring the puck into the offensive zone. Pšenička would then drop a pass back to Josh Zakreski. Zakreski would spot Kyle Chyzowski with space on the far side. Zakreski’s pass would miss Chyzowski’s stick, but the bounce would kick right back to Chyzowski off the boards. From the bottom of the faceoff circle, Chyzowski instantly fired a shot on target. His shot would beat Raiden LeGall high glove side, and give the Winterhawks the early 1-0 lead.
Everett was determined to not let Game 4 start the same way as Game 3 did, and responded quickly. With 11:53 on the clock, the Silvertips power-play was hard at work in the offensive zone. A pass from the point would deflect off the stick of Chyzowski and go towards Winterhawks goaltender Ondrej Štěbeták. Štěbeták would make the save, but Tyler MacKenzie would pull the rebound away before Štěbeták could smother it. MacKenzie would then shift over to his backhand, and push the puck past the leg of Štěbeták, tying the game at 1-1.
Then with 10:21 Portland would find another fortunate bounce. After losing the offensive zone, Kayd Ruedig would skate around, and throw the puck back in off the boards. Rather that riding the glass, the puck would kick back out off a divider, and find the stick of Josh Zakreski in the faceoff circle. Zakreski would then turn around, and drop a pass back to Kyle Chyzowski in the slot. Chyzowski would fire a wrist shot past the blocker of LeGall, scoring his second goal of the night. The captain’s seventh goal of the postseason would give Portland a 2-1 that would carry into the end of the first period.
Momentum would swing back and forth in period two. Everett was winning the battle in terms of penalties, time of possession, and shots. However, Ondrej Štěbeták was making highlight reel level saves to keep Portland in the lead. Then, Kyle McDonough would leave the ice shortly after a hit on the boards. Eager to get revenge on the Silvertips, Portland’s power-play would strike gold with 8:41 remaining. Off the ensuing faceoff, Alex Weiermair would win the battle for the loose puck and force it back to the point. Tyson Jugnauth would receive the pass, and then swing the puck over to Diego Buttazzoni for a shot from the top of the far faceoff circle. Buttazzoni would snipe the corner, glove side on LeGall, and the crowd would erupt for the Winterhawks 3-1 lead.
Penalties continued to plague the Winterhawks in the second period, and Everett was taking full advantage of it. With 5:33 remaining in the period, Tarin Smith would jump and snatch the puck out of the air to keep the offensive zone for Everett. Smith would then slide the puck over to Landon DuPont at the top of the faceoff circle. DuPont would then wind up for a slap shot, and wait for the shooting lane to clear. DuPont’s shot would beat the blocker of Štěbeták, staying inside the far post, cutting Portland’s lead down to 3-2.
The Winterhawks would have the last laugh of the second period. With 1:46 remaining, Portland found themselves on a 3-on-2 rush. Diego Buttazzoni would slow down at the top of the faceoff circle, and lead a pass for Tyson Jugnauth. Jugnauth then passed the puck to Kyle Chyzowski at the near post. Chyzowski would tip the puck back behind the leg of LeGall, earning a hat-trick and a 4-2 lead for Portland.
Everett continued to find ways to bounce back in the third period. With 15:38 remaining in regulation, the Silvertips would hold the offensive zone by throwing the puck on net from the blue line. The puck would be blocked in front, and Tyler MacKenzie, would send the rebound back towards Štěbeták. Štěbeták would make a save, but the rebound would kick right out to Cole Temple. Temple would get the puck to his backhand, and flip a shot on net. Štěbeták couldn’t recover in time, and the Silvertips would once again pull within one of Portland.
Then, with 12:30 remaining, Portland’s power-play would re-extend the lead. Buttazzoni held the offensive zone with a defender draped over him. At the blue line, Buttazzoni would leave the puck for Kayd Ruedig to skate in with momentum. Ruedig then wristed a shot high blocker side, and would find the back of the net. Ruedig’s first goal of the postseason would give Portland a 5-3 lead.
With time winding down, Everett was working against the clock. However, the Silvertips would find a 4th with 4:13 remaining in regulation. Zackary Shantz would intercept a clearing attempt from Portland’s defensive corner along the boards. Once Shantz had control of the puck, he looked up and found Kaden Hammell high between the faceoff circles. Hammell then wristed a shot past the blocker side of Štěbeták, making the score 5-4 Portland.
Seconds after the goal, a double minor penalty to Alex Weiermair would put Everett on the power-play. Then, with 1:40 remaining in regulation, the Silvertips would pull their netminder. After a flurry of blocked shots, the puck would bounce out and be worked around to Eric Jamieson. Jamieson would shift the puck down to Kaden Hammell at the top of the faceoff circle. Taking a step inside to change the angle, Hammell’s wrister would sneak through a crowd in front of the net. Going over Štěbeták’s glove and staying inside the far post, Hammell’s third goal of the postseason would tie the game at 5-5 with 1:01 to go in the game. With no one able to break through in the final minute of regulation, Game 4 would require overtime to find a victor.
The game winning goal would come with 4:11 remaining in overtime. A lofted puck dump into the offensive zone would skip between the legs of a sliding Silvertips defenseman. Josh Zakreski, following the play in, would scoop up the loose puck, and be all alone in tight with the goaltender LeGall. With momentum, Zakreski would deke to his backhand, and beat LeGall’s outstretched glove to the far side of the net. Zakreski’s fifth goal of the postseason would give the Winterhawks the 6-5 overtime win.
After the game, Head Coach Kyle Gustafson was asked how proud he was of his team to win these last two playoff games at home.
“It’s good, it’s awesome,” Gustafson said. “To have that little, underdog mentality with our group. This is the best team in the conference, and we’re right there. It gives a lot of belief in our team. But, to solidify that we get another chance to play at home. Another chance to play in front of our fans. It was loud out there, it was really loud. Every chance they’re out of their seats. So, to have that opportunity again is quite special.”
Game five will be played at Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett, Washington on Friday at 7:05 p.m.
Northwest Sports Desk 