Game Day Hub: March 8
March 8, 2020 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Portland Winterhawks News Release
Portland Winterhawks vs. Victoria Royals Following last night's overtime win, Portland jumped back into first place in the U.S. Division and Western Hockey League with 95 points. All three head-to-head match-up this season against Victoria have gone to overtime, but Portland has captured five of the possible six points.
Puck Drop: 5:00 p.m. PT
Venue: Moda Center (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 98.1 FM.
Watch Live: WHL Live
Tickets: Portland vs. Victoria
Up Next: Be sure to secure your tickets for tonight's 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.
Last night, the Hawks completed one of their best comebacks of the season to beat Victoria 5-4 in overtime. Portland tied the game with 22 seconds left and they won it 18 seconds into overtime.
Five Hawks recorded multiple points in the win last night, including Jake Gricius who played a part in the last two goals of the night to give him 60+ points in back-to-back seasons. Seth Jarvis reeled in three more points, giving him nine on the year against Victoria to put him three shy of 100 with six games left to play.
Captain Johnny Ludvig also recorded two assists in his return to the lineup after missing the last three games. He became the third WHL defenseman to reach 60 points this season, joining Everett's Wyatte Wylie and Lethbridge's Alex Cotton. The Hawks still lead the WHL and sit sixth in the CHL with 266 goals scored.
Adam Evanoff made 38 saves on Saturday, which was his second most saves as a Royal. Former third round WHL Bantam pick Kaid Oliver tossed in two goals last night to give him 22 on the season and defenseman Nolan Bentham scored his first WHL goal on the Royals first shot of the night. Nineteen year old Brandon Cutler has consistently produced, posting six multi-point games in his last month, the highest producing month of his WHL career. However, his line was on the ice for three goals against on Saturday.
Tonight wraps up the Hawks three-game home stand before they travel to Spokane next Friday for the last meeting against the Chiefs. The remaining three home games this regular season, including tonight, will all be played at the Moda Center.
Milestone Watch: Winterhawks Head Coach, General Manager and Vice President Mike Johnston is now two 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 ONE point to guarantee a top two finish in the division and home ice advantage for the opening round of playoffs.
PROJECTED LINE-UP:
Check back no earlier than one hour prior to game time to view tonight's Winterhawks projected line-up.
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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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