The Portland Winterhawks played a midweek game in Spokane in the last trip to the Eastern Washington city and came away with their fifth straight win.
Luca Cagnoni’s two goals in the first period set the Hawks in the driver’s seat heading to the second. After the Hawks’ James Stefan scored just past the five-minute mark, Spokane would capture the following two: one past the fourteen-minute mark of the period and the other shorthanded with less than two minutes left in regulation. The Chiefs couldn’t add the tying goal despite Cooper Michaluk being pulled shortly after that for an extra attacker.
Now at 44-15-2-1 for 91 points, the Hawks lead the US Division by four points over the Everett Silvertips and can clinch the Division with two wins or two Everett losses. The Hawks sit back 1 point behind Prince George for the overall Western Conference lead, having a game in hand. The Hawks are six points back of the Saskatoon Blades for the overall lead of the WHL.
With three goals, the Hawks now sit at 296 and could get the elusive 300 with their next game, home against the Tri-City Americans. The Hawks are now playing two sets of three games in three nights, with most of the games being versus Seattle. They play Seattle three times, with two on the road, Wenatchee, once on the road, and twice against Tri-City, with one at home and one on the road.
The weekend games will feature a Fan Appreciation Night when they play Tri-City Americans at home on March 15. The big event is Sunday when they play up in Seattle. Sunday, March 17, is not only St. Patrick’s Day but also the big contest with the Hawks and Thunderbirds when they play at the home of the NHL Seattle Kraken Climate Pledge Arena.
Hawks fans are encouraged to grab seats in Section Club 14 through Section Club 26 (North end of the Arena), where the Hawks will shoot twice. This weekend should be the Hawks’ best chance at increasing their winning streak and goal output and overtaking Prince George Cougars for the Western Conference lead.
In other news, Aiden Sotas’ injury appears to be season-ending, and he has been dropped from the active roster. Justen Maric seems to be the permanent backup for now as it looks like the Hawks are getting older in net in the hopes of making a long run in the playoffs. “Chasing the Dream” is the new mantra for the Winterhawks as they look to make a solid run in the playoffs.
The Hawks have announced their first two home playoff dates: Friday, March 29, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, March 30, at 6 p.m. Because they are far enough in the overall Conference standings to do so, the Hawks are guaranteed home-ice advantage for at least the first round of the playoffs and could add to that tally in the coming days with the winning ways they have displayed thus far.
