Comeback Complete and Back in First Place
Published on March 8, 2020 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Portland Winterhawks News Release
The Portland Winterhawks charged back from two deficits to beat the Victoria Royals 5-4 in overtime on Saturday night at the Coliseum. The Hawks never led until Cross Hanas scored his third game-winning goal of the season 18 seconds into overtime. With tonight's win and Seattle's 5-2 win on the road in Everett, Portland jumped into first place in the U.S. Division with
It took Victoria over seven minutes to register its first shot on goal, but the visitors touched Joel Hofer for two goals in a two minute window to take a 2-0 lead after the first period. The Winterhawks, however, controlled the second period. Seth Jarvis opened the scoring four minutes into the middle frame on an in-tight shot over Adam Evanoff's glove to cut the lead to 2-1. Kaid Oliver scored at the midway point of the period on a center ice dump-in to recapture a two-goal lead.
Portland poured it on late, testing the Royals defense and netting two goals in the final two minutes of the period to make it a 3-3 game into the second intermission. Jack O'Brien banged in his fourth goal of the week and Matthew Quigley tied it up on his second goal of the season.
After a back-and-forth third period, Tarun Fizer broke the tie game inside four minutes to make it 4-3, but that did not faze the Hawks. With Hofer pulled and an extra attacker on, Jake Gricius scored the tying goal on a rebound in the slot with 22 seconds to go to force overtime. It was the Hawks fifth extra attacker goal this season.
Eighteen seconds into the bonus frame, Johnny Ludvig led it up the wing to Gricius who found Hanas cross-ice for a breakaway and the eventual game-winning shot. Portland faces Victoria tomorrow night at the Moda Center at 5:00 p.m. for the final regular season meeting.
NOTABLES:
Jack O'Brien recorded two points to get him to 30 on the season. He is just the sixth 16 year old in the Mike Johnston/Bill Gallacher era to reach 30 points in the regular season. He is nine points shy of tying Seth Jarvis' record of 39.
Jarvis continues to climb the WHL leader board, earning his 7th, 8th and 9th points of the season against Victoria. He is now three points shy of 100 in his career.
Jaydon Dureau banged in two primary assists tonight to put him second on the team in scoring with 67 points.
Jake Gricius now has six points in his last four games to get him at 60 points on the year.
All three games against Victoria have gone to overtime this year.
SHOTS ON GOAL:
POR: 43
VIC: 22
POWER PLAY:
POR: 0/3
VIC: 1/2
SAVES:
POR: Joel Hofer stopped 18-of-22 shots.
VIC: Adam Evanoff stopped 38-of-43 shots.
Western Hockey League Stories from March 8, 2020
- Winterhawks Clinch Home Ice Thanks to a Sunday Win - Portland Winterhawks
- T-Birds Battle Hard But Fall Just Short against Everett - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Royals Dropped by Winterhawks - Victoria Royals
- Depleted Americans Team Falls to Blazers - Tri-City Americans
- Hughes Shuts the Door as ICE Beat Raiders 3-0 - Winnipeg Ice
- Raiders Shut Out In Winnipeg - Prince Albert Raiders
- ICE Take on Division Leading Raiders - Winnipeg Ice
- Game Day Hub: March 8 - Portland Winterhawks
- Cougars Go OT to Pull off Shocking Sweep of Giants - Prince George Cougars
- Americans Struggle to Find Offense in 8-1 Loss to Blazers - Tri-City Americans
- Rockets hold off Hurricanes - Kelowna Rockets
- Broncos Fight Back Three Times, But Drop OT Game in Red Deer - Swift Current Broncos
- Giants Snag a Single Point in a 4-3 OT Loss to Prince George - Vancouver Giants
- Seatle Ends Streak - Everett Silvertips
- Rebels Post Much Deserved OT Win over Broncos - Red Deer Rebels
- OT Hero Crnkovic Does It Again - Saskatoon Blades
- Tigers Rally Past Oil Kings - Medicine Hat Tigers
- T-Birds Spring Past Silvertips - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Comeback Complete and Back in First Place - Portland Winterhawks
- Chiefs Say on Hot Streak vs. Hitmen - Calgary Hitmen
- Raiders Bounce Back to Beat Wheat Kings 4-2 - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Zummack's Five Helpers Power Chiefs Past Hitmen - Spokane Chiefs
- Royals Outlasted by Winterhawks - Victoria Royals
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