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WHL Portland Winterhawks

Gabe Klassen's Hat Trick Lifts Hawks to 7-2 Road Win

February 26, 2022 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Portland Winterhawks News Release


Gabe Klassen scored his second career hat trick in his 100th WHL game to help the Winterhawks inch closer to playoff berth, beating the Prince George Cougars 7-2 on Friday night.

In Taylor Gautier's return to the CN Centre, he made the WHL's Save of the Night in the opening two minutes of the game and backstopped 25 stops en route to his 13th win of the season with Portland.

Portland opened the scoring in the first stanza with a coast-to-coast drive by Clay Hanus that he tucked in front for a Kyle Chyzowski tap in. In the final minute of the period, the Hawks earned their first power play of the night and Cross Hanas deflected in a point blast from Hanus to give the Hawks a 2-0 lead after one period.

The Winterhawks had some prime scoring looks early in the second period with a chance to increase their lead, but it was Prince George scoring two quick goals to tie the game at 2-2 at the midway point of regulation.

Portland would respond, scoring five unanswered goals to end the game. Within a minute of the game being tied, Gabe Klassen scored his first of the night to give Portland its second lead of the night. A few minutes later, Marcus Nguyen ripped in a rebound at the left circle and Klassen buried his second goal in the paint to increase the lead to 5-2 after 40 minutes, chasing starting goaltender Tyler Brennan from the game.

Jonny Hooker was assessed a major penalty midway through the third period to give the Hawks a five-minute power play and they cashed in twice in tight. James Stefan picked up a hard-working goal on the left post on a rebound and Klassen sent the virtual hats flying with a net-front drive that beat Ty Young glove side.

Tonight's win sets up a playoff-clinching scenario for tomorrow if the Hawks win, they force overtime, OR a Spokane loss.

The Hawks improved to 3-0-0-0 this season against Prince George, outscoring them 17-to-5. The rematch is set for Saturday night at 7:00 p.m. PT.

QUOTE OF THE NIGHT presented by BBF TECHNOLOGIES:

"We're playing really good hockey. We just started going hard to the net. The goals we scored in the third were right around the paint. They're hard-working goals and those really turn the tide of a game. Obviously playing back here in PG there was a little added emotion to it, but overall it was a fun game to be a part of."

Winterhawks goaltender Taylor Gauthier

Game #51: Portland (7) at Prince George (2)

SOG: POR (52) - PG (27)

PP: POR (3/2) - PG (1/4)

Saves: Gauthier (25/27) - Brennan (28/33) and Young (17/19)

SCORING:

POR - 6:40 - First Period - Kyle Chyzowski (10) from Clay Hanus

POR - 19:26 - First Period - Cross Hanas (19) from Clay Hanus and Jaydon Dureau

PG - 8:06 - Second Period - Connor Bowie (11) from Ethan Samson and Riley Heidt

PG - 9:46 - Second Period - Hudson Thornton (11) from Ethan Samson and Fischer O'Brien

POR - 10:26 - Second Period - Gabe Klassen (21) from James Stefan and Kurtis Smythe

POR - 13:14 - Second Period - Marcus Nguyen (14) from Aidan Litke and Jack O'Brien

POR - 13:42 - Second Period - Gabe Klassen (22) from James Stefan and Jaydon Dureau

POR - 9:53 - Third Period - James Stefan (23) from Tyson Kozak and Jaydon Dureau

POR - 11:46 - Third Period - Gabe Klassen (23, hat trick) from Tyson Kozak and Jaydon Dureau

The Story:

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Western Hockey League Stories from February 26, 2022


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