From the get-go, the Portland Winterhawks looked to pepper goaltender Tyler Palmer with shots as they fired 19 versus 5, but it was Everett who struck first.
Just over three minutes into the game, Jesse Heslop scored where Jan Spunar attempted to slow it down with his stick to no avail. Portlan’s Ryder Thompson notched his first of the year midway through the first with a wire over Palmer’s outstretched glove, and the teams locked at 1 at the end of 1.
Portland added another as Carter Southern came in on a line change, wasn’t picked up, and fired at will on Palmer.
The Hawks added three more in the third in just under five minutes. Kyle Chykowski floated one through traffic to give him seven on the year. Josh Zakreski added another on the powerplay. Two minutes later, the initial shot of Luca Cagnoni was tipped by Josh Davies for his fourth of the year on the powerplay, all before the eight-minute mark of the period. Shots heavily favored Portland 47 to 20, and Portland went 2-4 on the powerplay versus 0-4 for Everett.
Portland’s Jan Spunar picked up yet another win and lowered his Goals Against Average to 1.06, best in the league. He’ll be competing for another goaltender of the week as the Hawks seek to stay atop the poll with a lopsided win versus Brandon and a solid posting against Everett.
The Hawks have now won 8 games straight, tying them with the Prince George Cougars for the overall WHL lead. Portland has two games in hand, which will be eaten up on the swing. Portland has not lost since a nailbiter 6-5 loss to Wenatchee in the third week of September.
The Hawks go even further on the road on the Central Swing with three games in as many nights with Red Deer, Edmonton, and Calgary in that order from Friday to Sunday. The three teams are all at the bottom of the Division, with Medicine Hat Tigers appearing to be the most formidable challenge the Hawks will face later on the swing.
In other Winterhawks news, Jordan Duguay, representing Team Alberta at the WHL Cup in Red Deer, scored twice and had six assists in the tournament. Duguay is a prospect of the Winterhawks.
