WHL Portland Winterhawks

Everett Beats Winter Hawks 3-2

Published on January 11, 2004 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Portland Winterhawks News Release


The Portland Winter Hawks fell this evening to the expansion Everett Silvertips 3-2 in Everett, Washington in front of 7,216 at the Everett Event Center. The Silvertips now take over third place in the U.S. Division standings with a record of 18-16-7-1 while the Winter Hawks drop in to fourth place with a record of 19-17-4-1.

Portland jumped on board first as Robin Big Snake netted his 9th goal of the season from Brendan Mikkelson while on the power play at 11:50 of the first period. But Everett bounced back and tied things up as Curtis Billsten scored his 5th of the season, 6:27 into the second period. Portland's Big Snake and Everett's Billsten, each scored their team's lone goals in last night's match-ups, as Portland lost 2-1 to Kelowna and Everett fell to Spokane 4-1. The Hawks then went on to take a 2-1 lead in the third as Big Snake went on to score his third goal in two nights for his 10th of the season from Brandon Dubinsky and Darrell May on the assists. 32-seconds later Everett once again tied things up as Mark Kress got his 2nd of the season from Jeff Schmidt and Barry Horman. But then the Silvertips gained the momentum and 34-seconds later Mitch Love netted the game winner for his 5th of the season from Marc Desloges and Chad Bassen as the Tips' would go on to beat the Winter Hawks 3-2.

The Winter Hawks played a good first 20-minutes and held the Silvertips to only 3 shots in the period, while the Hawks were able to generate 8 shots, on one of which they wound up taking a one to nothing lead. Winter Hawks enforcer, 19-year old left-winger Robin Big Snake crossed in front of the Silvertips starting net-minder Todd Harvey as Hawks rookie defenseman Brendan Mikkelson threaded the needle from the left point and shot a quick one timer. Big Snake, who was set in front of the net, was able to tip in the initial shot by Mikkelson, for his 9th of the season, while on the power play at 11:50 in the period after Tips' Chad Bassen was called for high sticking. Everett, who is 8-0-2 after leading after the first period, found them selves down 1-0 as they headed into the intermission. Portland, who reacquired 20-year old Brad Priestlay on this past Thursday's trade deadline, made his Winter Hawks return debut and had a couple great scoring chances early on in the period, but would be robbed by Tip's goaltender Harvey.

Everett came out in the second and tied things up at 1-1, 6:27 into the period as right-winger Curtis Billsten went on to score his 5th of the season on a tip in shot. Defenseman Mitch Love stepped down from the left point and rifled the initial shot in on Winter Hawks rookie starting goaltender Dustin Butler, who had a lot of traffic in front of him, including Billsten who was able to tip it in just past Butler to even things up. Portland's best chance to take the lead once again came mid-way thru the period as Big Snake came out of the penalty box after being given a 10-minute misconduct penalty at 19:01 in the first period, as Big Snake and Brian Woolger had an almost near 2-on-1 break, but Woolger over passed and could not connect with Big Snake, where things would wind up ending tied 1-1 heading into the final 20-minutes of regulation play.

Portland went on to take a 2-1 lead early in the third as Big Snake netted his 10th of the season and third goal in two nights, with a quick wrist shot from the left point high glove side of Harvey, from

Brandon Dubinsky and newcomer Derrell May, who was acquired at the trade deadline, at 6:34 in the final period of play. But Everett bounced back to tie things up once again as Mark Kress was found all alone in front of Butler who was able to put it in at the backdoor, where Butler stood no chance of stopping the puck, for his 2nd of the season. 1:34 later, Everett gained momentum as they went on to take a 3-2 lead over the Hawks as Mitch Love was able to net his 5th of the season from the left point on a rebounded shot at the top of the left circle, where the Silvertips would then go on to beat the Hawks 3-2.

Portland scratched (D) Taylor Sutherlin and (LW) Frazer McLaren due to numbers, along with (RW) Dan Da Silva, who is listed day-to-day with injured ribs. The Hawks will now return home tomorrow to finish up the home-and-home series with the Silvertips at 5:00pm at Memorial Coliseum, where it's a Taco Bell 2-for-1 Sunday. All 2-for-1 coupons are available at all local Taco Bell locations or by visiting the Hawks website at www.winterhawks.com where printable coupons are available under the event calendar portion of the site.

Check out the Portland Winterhawks Statistics

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Western Hockey League Stories from January 11, 2004


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