The Portland Winterhawks had a bit of a break and it seems when that happens, the team struggles to find its footing.
They started 16-year-old goaltender Dante Giannuzzi in Spokane as part of a three-games-in-three-nights affair, one that the WHL is trying to eliminate many of the weekday games. Giannuzzi made a highlight reel save in the first period, but couldn’t stop them all. At the end of one, it was 2-0 Spokane. Joachim Blichfeld offered the visitors a spark when he score but Spokane found a regular-strength goal and sealed it with an empty-net goal to win 4-1.Portland outshot Spokane, 37-22. Spokane got one power-play goal on five chances, while the Winterhawks were blanked on six chances.
Less than 24 hours later, the Hawks were back at home with a pair of games against Kamloops.The previous night, Kamloops exploded for goals in a lopsided 7-2 win over Seattle and set their eyes on revenge against Portland. Joachim Blichfeld was once again the hero for the Hawks just six minutes in as he put the home team up on the powerplay. However ,three goals in eight minutes, including one on the power play, gave the Blazers a commanding 3-1 lead at the end of one.
The second of the night by Jeremy Loewen on the power play by Kamloops put them up by three. Mason Mannek scored seven minutes later to pull the Hawks within two.
Two goals five minutes apart, including the hat trick goal by Jeremy Loewen, gave Kamloops a 6-2 win. Two-for-six power plays for Kamloops versus one-for-three for Portland, and Portland captured 34 shots to 28 Kamloops with Shane Farkas taking the loss and Dylan Ferguson capturing the win. Less than 24 hours later, the same two teams would meet again.
In a quirky schedule, the Hawks and Blazers would play the four-game series in less than three weeks and the fourth game would be played in Portland.
Stage was set as Portland tried to rebound less than 24 hours later and sadly found the same results: this time a 5-2 loss. Portland did better in Kamloops getting just one of their seven power plays and getting two of their own on five and kept Kamloops off the board in the first period.
The second period saw two goals go Kamloops’ way and a third very early in the final frame on the powerplay. Cody Glass responded just a minute later also on the powerplay. But less than five minutes later, the Blazers added another, which restored their lead. Portland would add another as the power play clicked again and subbed the goaltender out for another attacker. Kamloops would score an empty-net goal late in the third to take the game 5-2.
Portland has another three-games-in-three-nights scenario upcoming with a pair at home against Victoria then a long road trip to Spokane on Sunday.
Ice Chips:
The Hawks will have another meet and greet on Tuesday, November 6:
LOCATION: Aloha (18100 SW Shaw St, Aloha OR 97078)
PLAYERS: BRENDAN DE JONG, JOHNNY LUDVIG, and DANTE GIANUZZI plus Rosebuds
LOCATION: Portland N 82nd (2010 NE 82nd Ave, Portland OR)
PLAYERS: RYAN HUGHES, NICK CICEK, CLAY HANUS, and CROSS HANAS plus Rosebuds
WHAT: Autographs, games, prizes and more!
