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WHL Portland Winterhawks

Hawks Claw Back to Earn Point in Kennewick

March 11, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Portland Winterhawks News Release


The Winterhawks fought back to stretch their point streak to four games, but fell in the extra frame to Tri-City.

Game #62: Portland (2) at Tri-City (3) *OT

SOG: POR (49) - TC (34)

PP: POR (0/5) - TC (1/4)

Saves: Giannuzzi (31/34) - Suchanek (47/49)

COMPLETE BOX SCORE

SCORING:

TC - 7:49 - First Period - Reese Belton (13) from Parker Bell and Lukas Dragicevic

TC - 18:00 - Second Period - Adam Mechura (23) from Lukas Dragicevic

POR - 10:47 - Third Period - Marcus Nguyen (22)

POR - 14:48 - Third Period - Luke Schelter (6) from Josh Zakreski and Ryan McCleary

TC - 1:08 - Overtime - Reese Belton (14)

The Story:

Marcus Nguyen and Luke Schelter each scored in the third period to erase a two-goal deficit and help the Winterhawks (38-17-4-3) earn a point, but a Reese Belton penalty shot in overtime sealed a 3-2 victory for the Americans (29-26-5-2) on Saturday.

The loss snaps Portland's two-game winning streak but extends its point streak to four games (2-0-2-0).

Tri-City jumped out to an early lead when Belton potted a power-play rebound 7:49 into the game. Portland put the puck in the net soon after, but the goal was disallowed, and the Americans carried their lead into the second period.

The Winterhawks carried play in the middle frame but couldn't solve Suchanek, and another puck bounced Tri-City's way when Adam Mechura made it 2-0 on a breakaway just before the second intermission. The Hawks finally broke through while shorthanded in the final frame as Nguyen capitalized on a broke Tri-City stick to net his 22nd of the year on a breakaway midway through the period. Four minutes later, Schelter capped off the comeback with a slick snap shot from the right circle to force overtime.

Belton's game-winner came 1:08 into the extra frame on a penalty shot. A Tri-City breakaway chance during regular play initially left a rebound for Adam Mechura, who buried the puck for the supposed win. Both teams left their benches for what would have been the end of the game, but the goal was disallowed as play was blown dead before the puck crossed the line. After a delay to sort out the situation, Tri-City was awarded a penalty shot and Belton stepped up to seal the extra point for the Americans.

The Winterhawks' next game comes on home ice Tuesday as they take on the Spokane Chiefs at 7:00 P.M. at the VMC.

QUOTE OF THE NIGHT presented by BBF TECHNOLOGIES:

"Tonight shows that we are a playoff team. We got that resiliency and can come back from a deficit. But I think we played one of our best games in the past few weeks, so that's the positive to take away."

Winterhawks forward Luke Schelter

Check out the Portland Winterhawks Statistics



Western Hockey League Stories from March 11, 2023


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