Last week, the Portland Winterhawks claimed the number 2 spot in the CHL rankings the previous week following some lopsided wins. They jumped to number one this past week with lopsided wins. There is little doubt that the Hawks will remain atop the CHL this coming week.
Current rankings have Portland in the top spot, followed by Halifax Mooseheads of the QMJHL. London Knights and Saginaw Spirit, who will host the Memorial Cup this season, rank 3 and 4, respectively. Three WHL franchises hold down spots 5 to 7. Moose Jaw Warriors, Saskatoon Blades, and the Prince George Cougars have scored 49 goals in eight games this year. Rouyn-Noranda Huskies of the QMJHL, Soo Greyhounds, and North Bay Battalion, both of the OHL, round out the top ten.
Portland showed their muscle with a 4-1 win over their nemesis, Kamloops Blazers, who ousted them in last year’s playoffs—the first 48 seconds left fans wondering when Nathan Behm scored his second of the season. Relief came with James Stefan just midway through the period, and Josh Zakreski pounced on just over seventeen minutes in. Hudson Darby near the midway mark of the second period and Diego Buttazoni on the powerplay rounded out the scoring at 6:37 of the 3rd. The story of the game was shots.
Portland fired 50 at rookie goaltender Jesse Sanche, with Kamloops replying with a respectable 27 at Jan Spunar. Portland was 1-4 on the powerplay while silencing Kamloops 0-3.
Two nights later, the Tri-City Americans came to town; they wished they hadn’t. The Portland barrage started almost as soon as the teams hit the ice.
Just over two minutes into the game, Nicholas Johnson scored. Within two minutes while on the powerplay, Carter Southern added his finishing touch. Less than 50 seconds later, James Stefan added to the total. Luke Schelter capped off the scoring in just over 7 minutes, and that was enough for starting goaltender Nick Avakyan, who Lucas Matecha replaced.
With 2 seconds left in the period, Luca Cagnoni bagged one of his own, leaving the home team up by five.
The second period was a slugfest with a pair of misconducts and a pair of fighting with a total of 50 minutes in penalties handed out, and yes, there was yet another goal.
James Stefan nabbed his second of the evening midway through the period while on the powerplay. Portland held Tri-City to single-digit shot totals in two periods, with the Americans being credited with just four in the second period. They didn’t do much better in the first, garnering six shots.
Just under 3,000 took in this game, with the Hawks taking their foot off the gas into the third period. However, Hudson Darby ensured they got a goal in the third with his second of the season as they approached the middle of the frame.
Portland outshot Tri-City 34-22, with Tri-City getting 12 in the third period to make it respectable. Portland was 2-5 on the powerplay and held Tri-City scoreless on four tries. A 7-0 shellacking of the Americans leaves them atop the US Division standings but behind the Prince George Cougars while the Hawks still have three games in hand.
Next will be a midweek contest with the Brandon Wheat Kings, who are in the middle of their Western Swing. Then it’s the road for seven, a date in Everett, a week between that, and six games in ten nights.
