You won’t win many series if you give up 12 goals. The Portland Winterhawks are learning that lesson after a brutal pasting by Everett in Game 1, losing 8-1, and then following it up with a tighter, albeit still a loss, 4-1 the following night. Nathan Free was the only goal scorer in both games as the Hawks were outshot 60-25 in the opening contest. Portland’s lone goal came on the power play, going 1-for-3 on the night, while Everett went 2-for-4. While Portland wasn’t expected to capture the series, the opening night game certainly cemented those sentiments. Of course, the armchair coaches were blaming the bench bosses big time, but one has to realize this team is young, has had little time to come together, and is facing a team that wants more than just the Scotty Munro Trophy in its trophy case. That means other teams will need much more grit and determination to topple the Tips.
The second game was a much more organized effort by the Hawks. In fact, they scored the first goal. The lead lasted all of 20 seconds before Everett replied. A goal four minutes later gave the Tips the lead they wouldn’t relinquish. Everett added a third at 7:44 of the second, and the Hawks, desperate to catch up, pulled Ondrej Stebetak with over three minutes left, only to see Everett add an empty-net goal to finish the night at 4-1. Everett again held a dominating shot total at 48-21. Portland went 1-for-2 on the power play compared to Everett’s 1-for-5. The Hawks have to win at least one home game in the next two to secure a return trip to Everett and avoid a sweep.
Other series also got underway this weekend. To no surprise, Prince George took a 2-0 series lead on Spokane, with the teams playing a 3-4 format, three games in Spokane before the series concludes in Prince George. In an odd scheduling quirk, Game 3 will be on a Monday night. The Penticton Vees, expected to take down the Seattle Thunderbirds in two straight after outscoring them 24-11 in four regular season meetings, escaped with a one-goal overtime win in Game 1 but followed it up with a strong performance in Game 2. Some thought an upset could happen in the Kamloops versus Kelowna series, especially with the Rockets beefing up at the trade deadline, but Kamloops has held strong. However, Kelowna has taken both home games, with the series shifting to Kamloops for Games 3 and 4.
Out east, Prince Albert is showing why they are tops in the Eastern Conference, while the Edmonton versus Saskatoon and Medicine Hat versus Regina series are deadlocked at one apiece.
The real entertainment has been in the Calgary and Brandon series, which has seen both games go to overtime. The first went six minutes into the third overtime, an almost four-and-a-half-hour game, ending in a 1-0 defensive battle where a combined 115 shots were registered. The second game also went to overtime, ending midway through the first extra period in a 6-5 barnburner. Calgary’s wins in both games give them momentum as they head east. The Keystone Arena in Brandon is once again unavailable due to the annual Ag Fair, so the teams will battle nearly 50 miles west in Virden, Manitoba.
While there are a couple of surprises so far in the WHL, most results are about where one would expect.
The OHL has seen pretty similar results, except in the Flint versus Owen Sound matchup. While Flint looked like they would take the series, no one expected the two games to be so lopsided on the scoresheet. Flint has outscored Owen Sound 19-2 over the two games, including an 11-1 win in Game 2. That one was nearly a shutout, but with just four seconds left, the Attack spoiled it with a goal at the crease.
The QMJHL has all but two matchups sitting at 2-0, with the only 1-1 series taking place in the Eastern Conference.
Playoff hockey is alive and well, and expect things to get a great deal more intense in the coming days.
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