The Portland Winterhawks arrived in Everett for Monday’s game against the Silvertips knowing that they had all the momentum on their opponent’s ice—something they’ve been unable to find in either the Rose Garden Arena or Veterans Memorial Coliseum in the first round of the WHL playoffs. Having lost two of their first three playoff games in Portland, the Winterhawks came out with a sense of urgency to prevent a do-or-die Game 7 on Wednesday. Firing 52 shots on Everett goaltender Austin Lotz, Portland established pressure early and never let up, advancing to the second round with a 5-1 road victory.
Road sweet road
The Portland Winterhawks arrived in Everett for Monday’s game against the Silvertips knowing that they had all the momentum on their opponent’s ice—something they’ve been unable to find in either the Rose Garden Arena or Veterans Memorial Coliseum in the first round of the WHL playoffs. Having lost two of their first three playoff games in Portland, the Winterhawks came out with a sense of urgency to prevent a do-or-die Game 7 on Wednesday. Firing 52 shots on Everett goaltender Austin Lotz, Portland established pressure early and never let up, advancing to the second round with a 5-1 road victory.
The Winterhawks fell behind early when Kohl Bauml fed Reid Petryk for a shorthanded goal just 2:14 into the contest. Everett’s advantage was short-lived, however, as Seth Jones beat Lotz five minutes later to level the game. With just over five minutes left before the first intermission, Lotz saved a shot by Derrick Pouliot but couldn’t hold on to the puck. Oliver Bjorkstrand was in perfect position to pot the rebound for another score, and the Winterhawks took a 2-1 lead into the first intermission.
Despite getting 20 shots on net in the second period, Portland had to wait until the waning moments of the frame before putting the game completely out of reach. Bjorkstrand broke through for his second goal of the night on the power play with 4:46 remaining in the period, then set up Jones on another power play with less than two minutes to go before intermission.
Bjorkstrand completed his four-point night by serving up a pass for regular linemate Taylor Leier early in the third, and the Winterhawks held Everett to just one shot in the final period as they wrapped up the series-clinching victory in dominant fashion.
After a tougher-than-expected test against an inspired Silvertips squad, Portland now moves on to the second round. As the No. 1 seed in the playoffs, they’ll once again open the series with two games at home. Game 1 is scheduled for tomorrow night at the Memorial Coliseum, with Game 2 at the Rose Garden on Saturday.
