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WHL Portland Winterhawks

Dominant Hawks Earn Third Straight Win

November 10, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Portland Winterhawks News Release


Langley, B.C. - Gabe Klassen (2G, 2A) and James Stefan (2G) put on a sterling display as the Winterhawks picked up their third straight win, dominating the Vancouver Giants 5-1 at Langley Events Centre on Friday night.

The Winterhawks have recorded points in five straight games (4-0-0-1) and move to 12-4-0-1 on the year.

Klassen kicked off his big night with the game's first goal, wiring a wrister into the top corner from the left circle 11:21 into the contest. The Hawks' captain then turned playmaker for Stefan, feeding his fellow 20-year-old a perfect cross-crease feed on a shorthanded 2-on-1.

Up by two in the second stanza, Portland upped the pressure with another power-play strike, this time from Josh Zakreski. The 2024 NHL Draft-eligible winger took a pass on the goal line, then powered his way to the front of the net before lofting a backhander over Brett Mirwald's shoulder. With just under two minutes to play in the period, Klassen potted his second, tapping in a backdoor feed from Ryder Thompson to make it 4-0 Hawks.

Keen to snuff out any hope for the hosts, Klassen and Stefan combined once more while shorthanded on a beautiful give-and-go just 47 seconds into the third period. Stefan entered the zone against two Vancouver defensemen, dropped the puck to a trailing Klassen, then received a return pass before either defender could turn around and finished cleanly to Mirwald's glove side. The Giants eventually broke Jan Špunar's shutout bid with a 3-on-1 strike later in the third, but the Hawks held on from there for a 5-1 victory in Langley.

Špunar finished with 22 saves on 23 shots in the Hawks' win, while Mirwald turned aside 42 of 47 for the Giants.

With its extended road trip in the rearview, Portland heads home for three straight home games starting Friday, Nov. 17, against the Prince Albert Raiders.

-- WINTERHAWKS.COM -

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