It was a tough night for the Portland Winterhawks, who scored their first two goals on the first two shots that they took, but hockey is a 60-minute game, and Everett proved that by scoring the last four on Tuesday night.
The Hawks had played Everett a few days back, losing 4-1, and needed momentum to get back in the win column again but couldn’t do it. The Hawks scored twice less than two minutes in, with Jaydon Dureau and Seth Jarvis capitalizing on their chances. Everett came back with one just past the seven-minute mark, but the lead was restored to two after 14 minutes with Mason Mannek on his fourth of the year. Everett would close the gap five minutes into the second but relinquish that closeness 9 minutes in on a Seth Jarvis shorthanded goal. However, two powerplay goals late, Everett had tied it before a late third-period goal put the Tips on top. Towards the end of regulation, Everett got the empty net goal and with it a 6-4 win. The shots were 34-31, with Everett scoring twice on three attempts with the man advantage. The Hawks went 0-2 on the powerplay.
Other games on the night saw Tri-City Americans whip Seattle Thunderbirds 5-2. Seattle outshot The Americans 30-27 and scored once on six tries with the man advantage while keeping the Americans off the board on four attempts. Winnipeg scored a 3-2 win over Saskatoon, where they got 2 of three powerplay goals, including overtime. Regina Pats downed the Swift Current Broncos 6-1 but only went 1 for three with the extra man and holding off the Broncos on their two chances. Victoria Royals edged Prince George Cougars 3-2 in overtime. The Cougars got no extra man love on their three shots; Victoria got one with the extra man on two tries.
Other games around the league saw Moose Jaw drop Regina 4-3 where neither team scored with 9 man advantages between them, Brandon scraped by Prince Albert 3-2 where both teams scored once with the extra man on the PK., Vancouver shut out Kamloops 4-0, but did so only at full strength, Edmonton toppled Red Deer 6-1 with the Oil Kings getting more than double the shots on goal and giving up a man-advantage goal. The Vancouver versus Kelowna game was postponed due to Kelowna’s COVID 19 issues, so Vancouver played vs. Kamloops in a shuffle of the schedule. The Rockets will attempt to play again after the 13th, depending on the COVID results.
To wrap things up, Winnipeg Ice went a perfect 3 for 3 on the man advantage to take a 6-3 win over the Moose Jaw Warriors. Moose Jaw outshot the Ice 36 to 31 in the match, and the Warriors only were able to go 1 of 4 with the extra attacker. Kamloops versus Kelowna was postponed due to COVID 19 issues with the Rockets, so Vancouver played Victoria. Brandon Wheat Kings beat up the Swift Current Broncos 4-1 with a 37-21 shot advantage. The Wheat Kings went 1 for 4 on the powerplay and held the Broncos off the sheet on their two tries.
The following night Saskatoon Blades smashed the Prince Albert Raiders 5-3, where the Raiders went two for five on the powerplay and saw the Blades get only one on four tries. The Blades outshot Prince Albert 38-23 in the contest.
The WHL has changed 2 games due to the pandemic. No games will be played on Tuesday, April 13. Instead, Prince George vs. Vancouver, originally slated for April 8, will be played on the 10th. The April 11 game with the same two teams will now be contested on the 12th.
19 games will be played over the weekend, including a pair by the Hawks versus Spokane on Friday and Saturday. The Portland Winterhawks will be on CW 32 the Saturday at 5 pm when they travel to Spokane Memorial Arena to face the Chiefs. This will be the only non-Seattle game that Portland will be on TV for, so don’t miss it. All other games will be available through the subscription service.
