Despite playing a lackluster game, particularly in the latter two periods, the Portland Winterhawks defeated the Seattle Thunderbirds, who are shorthanded and live in the cellar, 5-2. This was Portland’s third consecutive victory and third of the week.
The Winterhawks play Spokane at home on Tuesday, their final game before the Christmas break.
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Game preview
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Game thread with game updates and postgame reaction.
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The off day forum
Scoring summary
| 1st 11:30 POR (SH) Carsyn Dyck (Josh Zakreski) 1-0 | A great shorthanded play by Zakreski, knocking down a pass from Radim Mrtka to Braeden Cootes along the boards, then driving to the net, where Mrtka ties him up, but Dyck one-times the loose puck in from the slot. |
| 1st 15:49 POR Tyson Yaremko (Aaron Zulinick, Alex Weiermair) 2-0 | A long looping shot by Zulinick is knocked down by goalie Grayson Malinoski, but it goes right to Yaremko in front to knock it in. Zulinick s shot gets him his first WHL point. Weiermair grabbed the puck along the boards and passed it back to Zulinick. |
| 1st 16:46 SEA Braeden Cootes (Radim Mrtka, Arjun Bawa) 2-1 | A similar goal less than a minute later. Mrtka s long shot is knocked down by goalie Marek Schlenker, but it falls to Cootes who puts it home. Bawa originally passed it back to Mrtka. |
| 2nd 4:19 POR Kyle Chyzowski (Carter Sotheran, Tyson Jugnauth) 3-1 | With Portland getting multiple chances on the shift, Jugnauth from the left boards near the blue line throws it toward the net, where Vanek Popil deflects it to the weak side, where Chyzowski is all alone to put it in the empty net. A fortunate bounce. Sotheran initially put a shot on goal that rebounded out to Jugnauth. |
| 2nd 6:11 SEA Antonio Martorana (Arjun Bawa) 3-2 | Bawa wins the puck off the boards and centers to Martorana. He fans on his first shot, then throws a changeup at the net that beats Schlenker 5-hole. Mrtka might end up with an assist for helping Bawa win the puck. |
| 2nd 11:21 POR (PP) Tyson Yaremko (Joel Plante, Carter Sotheran) 4-2 | Yaremko from just in front of the goal line beats Malinoski short side, a very soft goal. Plante made a pass down low to Yaremko, and Sotheran threw a point shot into traffic that was blocked over to Plante. |
| 3rd 11:36 POR (PP) Diego Buttazzoni (Alex Weiermair, Kyle Chyzowski) 5-2 | From a step closer to the goal from the right dot, Buttazzoni wrists it into the upper corner after coming out of the right corner. Weiermair entered the zone and passed it down low to him; Chyzowski touched the puck as Portland brought it up the ice. |
| Portland leads by 2+ | 31:28 |
| Portland leads by 1 | 17:02 |
| Tied | 11:30 |
| Portland trails by 1 | 0:00 |
| Portland trails by 2+ | 0:00 |
Narratives
Pregame: The Winterhawks were heavy favorites in the first of many rivalry games in Portland this season. Despite Scott Ratzlaff’s dismissal on Friday, Seattle was losing their top two players to World Junior commitments as they made every effort to avoid being in the conference cellar. After absorbing hits on Friday, Kyle McDonough and Griffin Darby were placed on the bench, adding to Portland’s ongoing injury issues. Both sides are using their fictitious backups in goal. The two league teams with the least amount of experience faced off.
First period: The Winterhawks should have led by more than one goal after controlling the first period’s possession and scoring the first two goals. Although they didn’t have the puck very frequently, the Thunderbirds were reasonably threatening when they did. Neither goalie appeared particularly dominant.
Second period: The Winterhawks had a bad period and were outshot 15–8, but a soft goal and a fortunate bounce gave them a bigger advantage. Marek Schlenker kept the lead at two goals with a strong final performance.
Third period: Portland won the game, but it was a rather uneventful period. It would have been interesting if Seattle had attempted to cut the advantage to one, but they were never successful. Diego Buttazzoni’s penalty play goal essentially sealed the three-goal victory, and Schlenker played well enough to keep them out of it.
How it was won: 1. Portland’s first period created a gap in play that was sufficient for the remaining forty minutes.
2. Making goals. Early in the game, both players were shaky; Marek Schlenker settled down in the second half, but Grayson Malinoski did not.
3. Special units. Portland went 5 for 5 on the kill, 2 for 7 on the power play, and had a shorthanded goal.
Crucial stretch/moment: Buttazzoni’s goal in the third period. Seattle would have applied some pressure if they had been able to go within 4-3, but 5-2 won the game.
Unexpected: Not much at all.
A 3-goal special teams difference is hardly shocking. In terms of special teams goal differential, Portland leads the pack, while Seattle is currently in second place.
There aren’t any real disputes. At times, neither team was pleased with the officiating.
Yes, the best squad prevailed.
Suspensions/injuries: Nothing happened during the game, but two of the four Portland scratches were sustained during Friday’s match.
The players
| Top 10 | Stat line | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Tyson Yaremko | POR | 2 goals | 3-game point streak. |
| Marek Schlenker | POR | 30 saves-32 shots | The two goals weren t solid, but other than that was good. Two wins against Seattle where he s stopped 61 of 65. |
| Carsyn Dyck | POR | 1 goal | Good at both ends and at killing penalties, where he scored his shorthanded goal. |
| Kyle Chyzowski | POR | 1 goal, 1 assist | 7th in the league in scoring. |
| Tyson Jugnauth | POR | 1 assist | 1st in the league in scoring by defensemen, now by 7 points. 6-game point streak. |
| Braeden Cootes | SEA | 1 goal | Seattle s first goal and a strong game. 3-game point streak. |
| Diego Buttazzoni | POR | 1 goal | 6-game point streak. |
| Antonio Martorana | SEA | 1 goal | |
| Arjun Bawa | SEA | 2 assists | |
| Josh Zakreski | POR | 1 assist | A great play to create the first goal of the game. 3-game point streak. |
| Other notables | Stat line | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Aaron Zulinick | POR | 1 assist | First WHL point. |
| Joel Plante | POR | 1 assist | First WHL point. |
| Grayson Malinoski | SEA | 29 saves-34 shots | Doesn t quite look ready as a number one WHL goalie, which Seattle will have to think about when they consider moving Scott Ratzlaff. |
| Alex Weiermair | POR | 2 assists | 3-game point streak. 6 points in 5 games to start his career. |
Postgame
| Winterhawks | Thunderbirds | |
|---|---|---|
| Record |
17-12-2 (.581) |
11-19-2-1 (.379) |
| Goals/game |
3.8 |
2.9 |
| Goals allowed/game |
3.9 |
4.2 |
| Team shooting % |
.113 |
.094 |
| Team save % |
.889 |
.876 |
| Power play |
28.1% |
18.9% |
| Penalty kill |
81.5% |
72.3% |
| Power plays for/game |
4.4 |
3.4 |
| Power plays against/game | 3.8 | 4.3 |
| Outshooting opponents |
11-19-1 |
10-20-3 |
| After 1 period |
9-12-10 |
7-21-5 |
| After 2 periods |
11-15-5 |
7-21-5 |
| Score, last 10 games |
43-37 (+6) |
28-36 (-8) |
| Score, last 20 games |
78-74 (+4) |
59-82 (-23) |
The Portland Winterhawks
Not being up by more after one is unlucky, but being up by more after two is fortunate. After determining the amount needed for a straightforward victory over Seattle, it seemed as though they took that action. They can, however, conclude the first half on Tuesday with 18 victories in 32 games, which is essentially at the very top of everyone’s expectations.
The Seattle Thunderbirds
In the second period, they did a good job of getting back into the game. It would have made a difference if they had discovered one additional objective. They are in last place in the Western Conference at the end of the first half. In the upcoming month, they will concentrate on determining which veterans they will relocate and for what purposes as the reconstruction progresses.
Next games
Spokane vs. Tuesday, December 17, 7 p.m. PST
Looking ahead: Tri-City vs. Friday, December 27, 7 p.m. PST
Next away game: Tri-City on Saturday, December 28, at 6 p.m. PST
Seattle’s next game is this Saturday, 2/8, at 6 p.m. PST (really?).
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