The Portland Winterhawks welcomed 2013 with a hard-fought victory at the Rose Garden, as the Western Hockey League leaders rallied to defeat Everett in an offensive showdown on Saturday. Five days after goaltender Mac Carruth wrapped up 2012 with a 5-0 shutout against Seattle on New Year’s Eve—tying the team record with his 105th career victory—the Winterhawks went with Brendan Burke in goal and survived a shaky outing from the backup netminder to extend their winning streak to 10 games.
New year just like old times for the Winterhawks
Streaking: Winterhawks center Taylor Peters looks for an opening as the opposition closes in. Photo by Karl Kuchs.
The Portland Winterhawks welcomed 2013 with a hard-fought victory at the Rose Garden, as the Western Hockey League leaders rallied to defeat Everett in an offensive showdown on Saturday. Five days after goaltender Mac Carruth wrapped up 2012 with a 5-0 shutout against Seattle on New Year’s Eve—tying the team record with his 105th career victory—the Winterhawks went with Brendan Burke in goal and survived a shaky outing from the backup netminder to extend their winning streak to 10 games.
The Portland Winterhawks welcomed 2013 with a hard-fought victory at the Rose Garden, as the Western Hockey League leaders rallied to defeat Everett in an offensive showdown on Saturday. Five days after goaltender Mac Carruth wrapped up 2012 with a 5-0 shutout against Seattle on New Year’s Eve—tying the team record with his 105th career victory—the Winterhawks went with Brendan Burke in goal and survived a shaky outing from the backup netminder to extend their winning streak to 10 games.
With the depth of the roster reduced by injuries and the loss of three veteran stars to World Junior Championship rosters, Portland was tested early by the visiting Silvertips. Burke allowed three goals in the first two periods, but the Winterhawks came back to tie the game in the second and then got a pair of third-period goals from rookie left winger Paul Bittner. Those two goals proved to be the difference, and the home crowd left the arena celebrating a 5-3 victory.
NHL and players reach tentative CBA agreement
After 113 days, it appears that hockey’s labor impasse is finally moving toward a workable solution. As Saturday night blurred into Sunday morning, the National Hockey League and its players came to provisional terms on a new collective bargaining agreement that would bring the latest NHL lockout to an end.
With the help of federal mediator Scot Beckenbaugh, the two sides were able to reach a compromise following months of contentious negotiations. The players agreed to a maximum length of seven years on new contracts and eight years on contract extensions, a reduction in the players’ share of revenue from 57 to 50 percent and a lowering of the salary cap. The proposed 10-year CBA allows players to opt out after eight years in exchange for several major concessions.
The announcement of the deal means that the NHL can resume play in time for a partial season of 48–50 games. After the CBA is finalized and ratified by both parties, the league should return to action at some point between Jan. 15 and Jan. 19.
“I like the way our team competed tonight,” acting Winterhawks head coach
Travis Green said. “I didn’t think we were real sharp throughout the game, but I think it’s a good sign that we found a way to win tonight.”
Silvertips center Manraj Hayer opened the scoring for Everett, finishing off a shorthanded break with left wing Joshua Winquist early in the first period. The Winterhawks cashed in on a power play 37 seconds later to even the score, as team captain Troy
Rutkowski corralled a pass from Nicolas Petan and beat Everett goalie Austin Lotz with a slap shot from the point.
After Winquist was sent to the penalty box for roughing later in the first, Portland scored a second power play goal when Petan potted the rebound off attempts by Taylor Leier and Oliver Bjorkstrand, and the Winterhawks took a 2-1 lead into the first intermission.
The Silvertips quickly gained momentum in the second period, reclaiming the lead on the strength of two goals just 50 seconds apart. Winquist got the tying goal 5:27 into the period, set up by Hayer and defenseman Connor Cox. Moments later, Stathis Soumelidis found
Logan Aasman with a clear passage to goal, and Aasman’s wrist shot bounced off Burke’s left shoulder to put Everett back in front.
Portland continued to press, though, gradually establishing an advantage with their speed along both wings. Their efforts were finally rewarded when Brendan Leipsic scored off of the puck cycling of Petan and Bittner, showcasing the chemistry already developing between the new linemates. Two minutes into the third period, the Winterhawks won a faceoff to the left of Lotz and Leipsic sent a pass in front of the net to find Bittner for the goal that put Portland up for good. Leipsic and Bittner connected again for an insurance goal with 2:08 remaining.
“I don’t think it was one of our best games, but we came out here to win and we found a way to get two points,” Rutkowski said after the game. “You don’t see a lot of 10-game win streaks, and to have two so far this season is pretty special.”
