With the regular season now past the three-quarter mark, playoff spots are disappearing fast.
The Portland Winterhawks had three games this past week to strengthen their position. All three came against teams still chasing postseason hopes, and every night carried that playoff intensity. A single goal decided each game.
Kent: A Tough Overtime Loss
The week began in Kent, Washington, against the Seattle Thunderbirds, a team on the outside looking in after their WHL Final and Memorial Cup run just a few seasons ago.
Portland struck first. Sam Spehar finished off a quick zone entry, ripping a shot from just inside the right faceoff circle to make it 1-0. Seattle answered on the power play when Cameron Schmidt buried a pass from behind the net past Ondrej Stebetak.
Ryan Miller restored Portland’s lead early in the second, battling through traffic in front. But once again Seattle found success from behind the net, tying the game midway through the third.
Overtime looked promising for Portland, which entered the zone with numbers. Instead, Schmidt intercepted a pass, broke in alone, and lifted a backhander over Stebetak for the 3-2 winner.
Seattle outshot Portland 33-25. The Thunderbirds went 1 for 5 on the power play, while the Hawks came up empty in three chances.
Vancouver: Spoiler Alert
Next stop was Vancouver to face a Giants team that may need a miracle to reach the postseason. Teams in that position can be dangerous.
Cruz Chase got the start in net and made several key stops. Still, Vancouver slipped one through early for a 1-0 lead.
The game stayed tight until the third period, when Alex Weiermair blasted a power-play rocket from the left circle to tie it. But the Giants again capitalized from a sharp angle, beating Chase blocker side midway through the third.
Despite late pressure, Portland fell 2-1. Vancouver outshot the Hawks 31-28. Portland went 1 for 3 on the power play and killed both Giants’ opportunities.
Back Home: Special Teams Shine
A quick turnaround brought Seattle to Portland for the rematch.
Special teams took center stage.
Weiermair opened the scoring on the power play midway through the first. Early in the second, Nathan Free added another power play goal to make it 2-0. Seattle responded with a man-advantage goal of their own just minutes later.
Griffen Darby scored his second of the season at even strength, and Weiermair added his second of the night while shorthanded to stretch the lead to 4-1.
Seattle refused to go away, scoring late in the second and again with under seven minutes left in regulation to pull within one. But the Hawks held firm for a 4-3 win.
Portland edged Seattle 31-29 in shots. Both teams scored twice on the power play, Portland finishing 2 for 5 and Seattle 2 for 3, with the Hawks adding the shorthanded tally.
Around the Playoff Picture
Everett has clinched the US Division and cannot be caught. Penticton has secured the BC Division title. In the East, Prince Albert has locked up its division, with Brandon, Medicine Hat, Calgary, and Edmonton already in the postseason. Three Eastern Conference spots remain open.
Portland sits seventh in the US Division, tied with Victoria. Tri-City and Seattle are within striking distance, while Wenatchee and Vancouver would need significant help to extend their seasons.
In the OHL and QMJHL, the playoff fields are nearly set, with most lower-ranked teams too far back to realistically catch up.
Every point matters now. And as this past week showed, nothing is coming easy.
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