The Hawks played a doubleheader versus Spokane over the weekend with opposite results.
The first game was a defensive-style type playoff game with both teams anxious to hit the twine. Mason Mannek did so just over six minutes into the game, where he seemed to float one past goalie Mason Beaupit in the only goal he surrendered.
From there, it was all Spokane, and despite a 36-21 shot advantage for the Hawks, they couldn’t get it going on the powerplay as they went 0-5 and gave up a perfect 1-1 to Spokane. The second period was Spokane’s two goals, coming within the first three and a half minutes of the period, where Portland almost doubled in shots, but Spokane ended up with a pair on the board by Bobby Russell and Adam Beckman. Despite the tear the Hawks went on, they surrendered a goal with the empty net to Cordel Larson with 44 seconds left to give Spokane the 3-1 win.
The next night, Portland again dominated the shots on goal where they racked up a 48-29 advantage. Holding Spokane off the powerplay sheet on their 2 chances, Portland picked up a pair of goals on five tries.
It was the wild scoring that keep the stats guys busy with two very wild swings!
Portland opened it up just past the seven-minute mark of the first, with Seth Jarvis getting his first of two on the night. Adam Beckman returned the favor for Spokane late initially, but Jarvis would add his second just three minutes into the second period while on the powerplay.
Two more goals by the Hawks in the second by Kyle Chyzowski and Reece Newkirk gave the Hawks a 4-1 lead and looked like a cruise to win.
In the third period, it was whoever scored last would win. Three goals in the first 3:15 by Spokane, Erik Atchison, Reed Jacobson, and then a shorthanded marker by Eli Zummack erased the lead and tied the game.
Portland then restored the lead with Kade Nolan’s goal on the powerplay, Jaydon Dureau, and then Simon Knak with the empty net, which seemed to give the Hawks all they needed at 7-4. Spokane countered with a goal just ten seconds later and a goal just as time expired to make the game closer at 7-6.
The Hawks will have their next CW game on April 17 at 5pm vs Seattle Thunderbirds.
Other contests saw Lethbridge double up on Red Deer 6-3, where there outshot the Rebels 37-31 and on the PP 3-5 vs. 1-7. Everett got by Seattle 4-3. Both teams shot 33 times, but Everett, with the stronger powerplay at 2-4 and Seattle 0-2, made the difference. Regina scored a 2-1 overtime win over Brandon Wheat Kings despite being outshot 34-25. Brandon went 1-4 on the powerplay, and Regine 1-3. Moose Jaw beat up Swift Current 6-2 and went 2 of 3 on the powerplay, allowing one goal on four tries for the Broncos. The shots also went in the Warriors’ favor 32-39. Kamloops doubled up on Victoria 6-3, but the shots were heavily in the Blazers’ favor at 53-18. Victoria was a perfect 1-1 on the powerplay and allowed just one on five attempts with the man advantage. With COVID action, both the Medicine Hat vs. Lethbridge and Calgary versus Red Deer games were postponed.
Besides the wild 13 goal Portland / Spokane game, Lethbridge defeated Red Deer 5-2, where they outshot the Rebels 41-3, holding the Rebels off the powerplay sheet 0-2 but picked up two of their five chances in the win.
Tri-City handed Everett their first regulation loss with a 6-2 win. Dustin Wolf came in relief and gave up two of his own, but Braden Holt, who had started the game, gave up three and took the loss. Everett outshot Tri-City 39-22 and went 2-7 on the powerplay, holding the Americans off their two attempts.
Winnipeg Ice scored a 4-3 overtime win over the Prince Albert Raiders. The Raiders outshot the Ice 31-21 but went 2 of 3 with the man advantage, allowing the Ice 1 goal on 4 tries. The Saskatoon Blades doubled up on the Moose Jaw Warriors 4-2, where the Warriors got a 30-29 shot advantage. Moose Jaw went 1-3 on the powerplay and allowed a 1-2 to Saskatoon. Prince George Cougars scored a 6-3 win over the Vancouver Giants, with both teams scoring once to four attempts with the man advantage as both teams got 29 shots on goal as well in the contest. Games with Prince George versus Kelowna and Lethbridge versus Medicine Hat were postponed due to COVID.
The next games saw Seattle versus Tri-City, where the Thunderbirds had nine powerplays and capitalized on three of them in their 3-2 win over the Americans, who went one for four. Seattle outshot Tri-City 26-23 in the game. Prince Albert Raiders doubled up on Swift Current Broncos 4-2, where the teams got 37 shots. The Raiders scored once on three powerplays, and The Broncos went one of four on their attempts. Saskatoon Blades edged Brandon Wheat Kings 3-2 and doubled up on shots on goal 44-22 and went one for six on the powerplay. Saskatoon went two for five with their powerplay times. Kamloops squeaked past Victoria 4-3. Kamloops recorded 60 shots in the game versus just 19 for the Royals. Goalie Adam Evenoff for the Royals was voted as the number two star of the game. Kamloops went 1-7 on the powerplay, holding the Royals off the scoresheet in their five tries. The game Red Deer versus Calgary was postponed due to COVID.
Three games the following night were postponed, Victoria Royals vs. Kelowna, Calgary Hitmen vs. Red Deer Rebels, and Medicine Hat Tigers vs. Lethbridge Hurricanes.
