WHL Portland Winterhawks

Game Day Hub: Round 1, Game 3 at Everett

Published on April 3, 2023 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Portland Winterhawks News Release


2023 WHL Playoffs Winterhawks Game Day Preview

Portland Winterhawks at Everett Silvertips

The Winterhawks take a 2-0 series lead on the road as the puck drops on Game 3 in Everett tonight.

Puck Drop: 7:05 P.M. PT

Venue: Angel of the Winds Arena - Everett, WA

Uniforms: Red

Portland leads series 2-0

Game 1 - Everett 3 @ Portland 4 (Mar 31 2023) Final

Game 2 - Everett 0 @ Portland 4 (Apr 1 2023) Final

Listen Live: Winterhawks Radio Network and on the Winterhawks App

Watch Live: WHL Live on CHL TV

Game Notes: Winterhawks Game Notes

Follow the Winterhawks: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok

Upcoming WHL Playoff Games:

Game 4 - Friday, April 7 - at Everett

Game 5 - Saturday, April 8 - vs Everett (if necessary)

Game 6 - Monday, April 10 - at Everett (if necessary)

Game 7 - Tuesday, April 11 - vs Everett (if necessary)

FOLLOW ALONG: Box Score

Heading North

The Winterhawks couldn't have asked for a better beginning to their playoff run, knocking off Everett 4-3 in Game 1 and dominating Game 2 for a 4-0 victory. Their hot start has set them up well, with the potential to take a true stranglehold on the first-round series tonight - but they'll have to do it on the road as things shift up to Everett for the next two games.

"Just (focused on) taking care of our bodies and the habits we focus on all season...Should be a fun game in Everett, I know their crowd gets pretty loud so we're excited for that. Just gotta regroup, refocus and bring the energy," said Marcus Nguyen after Game 2.

After two defeats in the Rose City, the Silvertips will certainly look to start fast and score first in their barn tonight, while the Winterhawks know that taking the crowd out of it early could allow them to take control as they did last game. Giddy up for Game 3, Hawks fans!

Marcus Makes it Happen

Speaking of Marcus Nguyen, how about the start for Portland's #72? The Calgary, Alta. native bagged just one goal in the 2022 WHL Playoffs, but back-to-back two-goal games have the speedy winger flying high and leading the way offensively for the Hawks. And while we're used to Nguyen scoring, it's the way he's been finding the net that bodes well for his production and the team's offense as a whole

His first goal came in his usual fashion, using his speed off the rush to collect a pass in stride and snap it top-shelf, while the second came from about a foot in front of the net, standing still with his stick on the ice to quickly tap home a Luca Cagnoni pass from the corner. Getting in the goalie's kitchen is a surefire way to wind up with an array of bumps and bruises, but going to the "dirty areas" like the front of the net often yields the best results.

"We check our stats - lots of goals come from right inside the crease. I think Robbie (Fromm-Delorme) is a great example of that, he's really good net-front and I think a lot of guys on our team are getting comfortable in front of the net. Just getting to those hard areas and I got rewarded, so it was nice," he said.

The Špoonman

Saturday's Game 2 win marked goaltender Jan Špunar's first shutout in the WHL - the cherry on top of what has been a strong opening act in his first playoff appearance. The Czech puck-stopper turned aside all 23 shots that night and has picked up a total of 54 saves through two wins so far this postseason. His steady presence between the pipes has helped solidify Portland's defensive zone play and, despite the language barrier, his teammates know they can lean on #31 to get the job done.

"Yeah we all love Spoony, he's a great guy. His English is a little limited so it's hard to read him at times, but we're all so happy for him and we love him. We're all in this together, so it's nice to celebrate a great accomplishment for one of our brothers," said Jack O'Brien.

Check out the Portland Winterhawks Statistics

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Western Hockey League Stories from April 3, 2023


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