The Portland Winterhawks fell to the Prince Albert Raiders, 4-2 Wednesday night. With the loss, the Winterhawks have entered a four-game losing streak. Portland’s last win was on November 1, which came against the Kamloops Blazers in a shootout. The Winterhawks also now have a 3-4 record at home this season. Prince Albert is in the middle of a long seven-game road trip that started back on November 5th. Now with a win over the Winterhawks, the Raiders have gone 4-1 during their away stretch.
Despite a defensive first period, the Winterhawks were first to strike at Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Portland was outshot 11-7 through the first frame, and it looked like it would be more as the Winterhawks went on the penalty-kill late in the period. However, Portland’s man-down unit had other plans. First, Carter Sotheran would intercept the puck in the defensive zone and start an odd-man rush for Portland. With Alex Weiermair to his left, Sotheran would cross the neutral zone and drift to his right at the offensive blue line. Drawing a defenseman over, Sotheran would slide a pass over to Weiermair for a one timer from inside the faceoff circle. Weiermair’s shot would rip over the glove of Prince Albert goaltender, Michal Orsulak, and strike the twine in the back of the net. Portland’s third shorthanded goal of the year would give the Winterhawks a 1-0 lead with 1:46 remaining in the first period.
Then in the second period, Portland’s offense would extend its lead. Just past the halfway point of period two, Carter Sotheran would hold the offensive zone blue line for the Winterhawks. With a Raiders forward approaching, Sotheran would softly chip a pass along the boards. Ryan Miller would be there to battle for possession and eventually break off the boards at the top of the faceoff circle. As two defenders began to pinch in on the puck, Miller would slide a short pass over to Sam Spehar inside the faceoff circle. Spehar would then wind up a wrist shot that whipped over the right shoulder of the goaltender, Orsulak, and stay under the crossbar. With 9:05 remaining in the second period, Spehar’s third goal of the year would put Portland up 2-0.
The Raiders then dialed up the pressure in the third period. Just under five minutes into the final frame, Prince Albert created a 3-on-2 rush through the neutral zone. A pass by Jonah Sivertson would bounce off the stick of Evan Smith and trickle towards the offensive blue line. Just before Portland’s defense could get there, Smith would swipe the puck over to his left for Ty Meunier. Now inside the offensive zone, Meunier would hold the puck and wait patiently for his teammates to get open. With space at the top of the zone vacated, Linden Burrett would join the rush late. Meunier then led a pass over to Burrett in the high slot. However, instead of shooting, Burrett would pass the puck down towards the far post. There to receive Burrett’s pass was Evan Smith, who would loft a shot over the leg of Portland’s goaltender, Onderj Štěbeták. Smith’s seventh goal of the season would cut Portland’s lead in half, making it 2-1 Winterhawks.
Shortly after the halfway point of the third period, Prince Albert would get back on the scoreboard again. Brayden Dube would lead the charge for the Raiders on a 3-on-3 rush. Dube then would pass to his right for Brock Cripps, who would enter the offensive zone. Cripps would then spot a gap between defenders and thread a pass to Alisher Sarkenov in the slot. Sarkenov, now one-on-one with Štěbeták, would deke to his left for a wrist shot. Štěbeták would stretch out his right leg, but Sarkenov’s shot would fly over his pad, and the Raiders would tie the game at 2-2.
The remainder of the third period was tightly contested until a breakthrough with just under two minutes remaining in regulation. While both teams had one player in the penalty box, Evan Smith was able to spring Brayden Dube on the rush with a pass through the neutral zone. Dube then skated down the right side of the ice and crossed the offensive blue line with Brock Cripps to his left in support. Carter Sotheran would be the last defenseman back for Portland, and would do his best to both pressure Dube and block his potential passing lane. However, when Dube hit the near faceoff dot, he would lazer a wrist shot on towards Štěbeták. The puck would sneak under Štěbeták’s glove and stay inside the near post. Dube would score with 1:55 remaining in the third period, giving Prince Albert a 3-2 lead.
Unfortunately for Portland, Nathan Brown was still serving a slew-footing penalty. Meaning that the Winterhawks were on the penalty-kill for 27 seconds after Aiden Oiring was released from the box. In those 27 seconds, Alisher Sarkenov would find his second goal of the night. Prince Albert would score four unanswered goals in the third period, and the Raiders would defeat Portland, 4-2.
The Winterhawks will now look to get back on track over their three-game weekend. The action starts on Friday, Nov. 14, when the Winterhawks play host to the Wenatchee Wild. Puck drop is at 7:00 p.m.
Northwest Sports Desk 