The Portland Winterhawks were shocked Wednesday night by the visiting Calgary Hitmen, who took their first lead of the game with just 90 seconds left to play and held on for a 4-3 victory.
Despite bringing their usual potent offense, the Winterhawks came up short at Veterans Memorial Coliseum, where they have dominated all season. Calgary goalie Chris Driedger was brilliant, stopping 42 of 45 shots, while the Hitmen’s offense scored three goals in the third period to secure the comeback win. Calgary had been held scoreless in their two previous games, but came to life just in time to upset the Hawks.
The matchup between Portland and Calgary was one of contrasting styles. The Winterhawks are known for unrivaled speed and feature the league’s highest scoring line of Ty Rattie, Nicolas Petan and Brendan Leipsic. What they lack in size, they make up for in skill and extraordinary chemistry. Calgary is more defensive-minded and physical, anchored by 453 pounds of defensemen, otherwise known as Alex Roach and Jaynen Rissling.
In the first period of the contest, the Hawks set the pace, taking 15 shots to Calgary’s five and grabbing a 1-0 lead on a goal from Shaun MacPherson. The tables were turned early in the second as the Hitmen slowed down the Winterhawks and tied the game on a power play goal by Roach. Late in the period, the little guys struck out of nowhere as Rattie and Leipsic each scored within 14 seconds of each other. In the blink of an eye, the Hawks had a 3-1 lead.
Rather than being rattled by conceding two quick goals on the road, Driedger appeared almost energized by it. It did not hurt that, just a minute into the third, Calgary’s captain and leading scorer Cody Sylvester scored to bring them within one goal of the Hawks. Brooks Macek tied the game six minutes later after beating Hawks captain Troy
Rutkowski one-on-one, a rare sight for the home fans.
The Winterhawks continued to get quality shots in the third period, but failed to score in 19 chances against Driedger and company. With a minute and a half remaining, Sylvester scored again to seal the victory. Wednesday’s defeat was only the sixth home loss of the season for the Portland, who remains slightly ahead of the Kelowna Rockets at the top of the WHL’s Western Conference.
The Hawks play host to the Tri-City Americans Friday night at 7 p.m., the first of a three-game home stand at Veterans Memorial Coliseum. They have won seven of eight against Tri-City this season and look to continue
the trend.