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WHL Portland Winterhawks

Hanas Nabs Three Assists, Stefan Tallies SO Winner as Hawks Top Rockets 5-4

November 6, 2021 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Portland Winterhawks News Release


A fast start helped the Winterhawks withstand a late charge from the Rockets, who forced overtime before Portland took the win in a shootout.

Game #12: Portland (5) at Kelowna (4) SO

SOG: POR (27) - KEL (38)

PP: POR (1/3) - KEL (1/4)

Saves: Gordon (34, 3/5 shootout) - Knight (3), Tisdale (20, 2/5 shootout)

COMPLETE BOX SCORE

SCORING:

POR - 0:24 - First Period - Marek Alscher (2) from Cross Hanas

KEL - 5:42 - First Period - Andrew Cristall (3) from John Babcock and Dylan Wightman

POR - 10:32 - First Period - Tyson Kozak (4) from Cross Hanas

KEL - 12:29 - First Period - Pavel Novak (6) from Gabriel Szturc and John Babcock

POR - 13:53 - First Period - Ryan McCleary (1) from Tyson Kozak

POR - 18:44 - First Period - James Stefan (3) from Jaydon Dureau and Cross Hanas (PP)

KEL - 2:46 - Third Period - Jake Poole (4)

KEL - 4:53 - Third Period - Pavel Novak (7) from Colton Dach and Andrew Cristall

KEL - Shootout - Jake Lee and Mark Liwiski scored for Kelowna

POR - Shootout - Jaydon Dureau, Dawson Pasternak and James Stefan scored for Portland

The Story:

With the memory of Wednesday's early onslaught fresh in their minds, the Winterhawks, eager to start on the right foot, raced out to a VERY early 1-0 lead, as Marek Alscher scored just 24 seconds into the contest. The Rockets, to their credit, responded with a highlight-reel "Michigan" goal from Andrew Cristall, but the Hawks were not to be denied in the first period.

After Tyson Kozak and Kelowna's Pavel Novak traded goals, Ryan McCleary bagged his first of the year and James Stefan posted a power-play marker before the end of the frame to give Portland a two-goal lead through 20 minutes. Cross Hanas was the team's engine in the early going, notching three assists in the first period alone with plenty of creativity on display.

A goalless second period gave way to a desperate Kelowna team in the third period, and the Rockets' talent shone through with two quick goals to even the score. As the teams jostled for the lead down the stretch, overtime loomed, where neither side could land the deciding blow.

In the shootout, Kelowna gained an early advantage, but goals from Jaydon Dureau and Dawson Pasternak and some big saves from Lochlan Gordon set the stage for James Stefan's nifty move to eventually seal the Hawks' victory.

Portland gets right back after it on Saturday night against the Vancouver Giants before returning stateside for next week's U.S. Division matchups.

QUOTE OF THE NIGHT presented by BBF TECHNOLOGIES:

"The last few games, we didn't have a good start, so we just focused on our first ten minutes. I think the first ten minutes pretty much decided the game. We needed this win."

Winterhawks defenseman Marek Alscher

Check out the Portland Winterhawks Statistics



Western Hockey League Stories from November 6, 2021


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