End of the road

The Portland Winterhawks’ 2009–10 campaign marked the best turnaround in franchise history and a return to the postseason after a four-year drought, but their incredible run ended Tuesday night with a 3–1 loss at the Rose Garden.

Last season, the Hawks earned 19 wins, after just 11 the year before and 17 prior to that. The last time they made the playoffs, in 2006, was on a 32-win season that also ended in the second round of postseason contention against the Giants, four games to one. ? ?

This season, the Hawks improved to 44 wins and entered the first round of the playoffs with a head full of steam against the Spokane Chiefs. Portland won the first round in seven games before taking their second round with the Giants to six. The Hawks’ six wins in the postseason all came on the road, and though they changed venues from the Memorial Coliseum to the Rose Garden for Game Six, the Giants prevailed.

Vancouver scored in every period of play on Tuesday, while Portland saw just one goal in the first period from wingman Nino Niederreiter. Hawks goaltender Mac Carruth stopped 26 of the Giants’ shots, but the Hawks stalled on the offensive end as Mark Segal stopped 32 of Portland’s attempts.

The series was marked by a great deal of penalties, though in Game Six, each squad only sent seven men to the penalty box. Two of Vancouver’s goals came during power plays, and Niederreiter’s goal came during one of Portland’s five power-play opportunities.

Season tickets to see the Hawks next year are already on sale. At least four Hawks are no longer eligible for play, so expect to see increased recruiting over the summer as a way to carry this year’s success into the 2010–11 season.
 

Second-round results
April 3    Vancouver 9, Portland 6
April 4    Vancouver 7, Portland 4
April 7    Portland 3, Vancouver 2
April 9    Vancouver 5, Portland 3
April 10 Portland 5, Vancouver 4
April 13 Vancouver 3, Portland 1