Game Day Hub: March 7
Published on March 7, 2020 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Portland Winterhawks News Release
Portland Winterhawks vs. Victoria Royals The Winterhawks continue their three-game home stand with a visit from the Victoria Royals. This weekend represents the Hawks final out-of-division match-ups of the 2019-20 regular season.
Puck Drop: 6:00 p.m. PT
Venue: Veterans Memorial Coliseum (Portland, OR)
Listen Live: Winterhawks Radio Network and on the Winterhawks App. You can also listen live in the arena by tuning your radio to 87.9 FM.
Watch Live: WHL Live
Tickets: Portland vs. Victoria
Come Early Tonight!: The Portland Winterhawks and the WHL will be recognizing Dean "Scooter" Vrooman before tonight's game so be sure to get in your seats early.
Up Next: Be sure to secure your tickets for Sunday evenings game at the Moda Center and stick around afterwards to watch Winterhawks alumni play in the second annual Hockey Challenge benefiting the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Oregon and Southwest Washington and Doernbecher's Children Hospital.
FOLLOW ALONG: Box Score
This weekend will very much factor in to the Hawks and Royals playoff seeding, seeing that Portland sits in second in the U.S. and Victoria is tied with Vancouver for the second most points in the B.C. Division. Tonight's opponents met twice before on Vancouver Island in January and both games went to overtime. Each team picked up a win.
First round NHL draft pick of the Anaheim Ducks Brayden Tracey scored the game-winning overtime goal against Portland in his debut with his new club after the trade deadline. Keanu Derungs and Jaydon Dureau co-lead all players with three head-to-head goals in the previous two meetings.
On Portland's side, Seth Jarvis reeled in six points in the previous two meetings and he enters the weekend six points shy of 100 with seven games left to play. The Winterhawks could receive a boost to their lineup as both captain Johnny Ludvig and defenseman Jonas Brøndberg are nearing a return from their respective upper body injuries.
Speaking of, Victoria has also been battling the injury bug in its recent games. A week ago against Vancouver, the Royals only dressed nine healthy forwards and because of it, they have only three wins in their last ten games. Former Winterhawks goaltender and current Victoria Royal Shane Farkas is listed as week-to-week on the WHL's Weekly Report so it's unlikely Hawks fans will get to see Farkas play in his final return to Portland. He turned aside 42 of 43 shots in his first meeting against the Hawks this year.
Brandon Cutler (2000-born) has consistently produced, posting six multi-point games in his last month. Linemate Gary Haden also enjoyed a strong February to get him over 50 points for his second straight season thanks to a seven-game points streak. Haden leads the Royals with 24 goals.
Jake Gricius is a few points shy of back-to-back 60 point seasons with the Hawks and he is currently on a three-game point streak. Also, Jack O'Brien joined some elite company during Wednesday night's win against Tri-City and he leads all Winterhawks rookies with 13 goals.
Milestone Watch: Winterhawks Head Coach, General Manager and Vice President Mike Johnston is now three wins away from 400 in his Portland career.
Magic Number: The Hawks are inching closer to clinching home ice in the 2020 WHL Playoffs. As one of three U.S. Division teams to already clinch a spot in the postseason, the Hawks magic number is set at three points to guarantee a top two finish in the division and home ice advantage for the opening round of playoffs. Meaning if the Winterhawks win tonight in an fashion and the Spokane Chiefs lose in regulation to the Calgary Hitmen, the Winterhawks will solidify a top two finish in the division.
Western Hockey League Stories from March 7, 2020
- Williams Scores against Former Team, Cossa Makes 44 Saves in Loss to Tigers - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Alexander Wins First Career Game; ICE Beat Warriors 7-1 - Winnipeg Ice
- Watts Strikes Twice In Win Over Wheat Kings - Prince Albert Raiders
- Weekend Ends with Loss in Winnipeg - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Pats Earn OT Point - Regina Pats
- WHL Recognizes Dean Vrooman with Distinguished Service Award - Portland Winterhawks
- Winterhawks' Vrooman Receives WHL Distinguished Service Award - WHL
- Game Preview: Playoff-Clinched Blades Head to Regina - Saskatoon Blades
- 2020 Oil Kings Playoff Pass on Sale Now - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Game Day Hub: March 7 - Portland Winterhawks
- ICE and Warriors Meet for Second Time in as Many Nights - Winnipeg Ice
- Game 62 vs Edmonton - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Saturday, March 7 vs. Spokane - Calgary Hitmen
- Wheat Kings Score Overtime Win in Prince Albert - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Game Day Preview: Pats Host Rematch with Saskatoon Saturday Night at Brandt Centre - Regina Pats
- Rockets blank T-Birds, clinch playoff spot - Kelowna Rockets
- Silvertips Outdistance Tri-City in Second - Everett Silvertips
- Rebels Burned on Odd-Man Rushes, Fall 5-1 to Chiefs - Red Deer Rebels
- Giants Fall 5-4 in a Back-And-Forth Game in Prince George - Vancouver Giants
- Americans Shut out in Everett - Tri-City Americans
- Tigers Defeat Hitmen 6-1 - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Broncos Drop Tight-Checking Game to Top-Ranked Oil Kings - Swift Current Broncos
- Oil Kings Defeat Broncos, 4-1, on Superhero Night at Rogers Place - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Rockets Shoot Down T-Birds - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Tigers Use Benefits of Home to Stop Hitmen - Calgary Hitmen
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
