WHL Portland Winterhawks

Hawks Erase Two-Goal Deficit to Earn Point in SO

Published on February 8, 2023 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Portland Winterhawks News Release


Portland, Ore. - The Winterhawks (35-10-2-2) erased a two-goal hole in the third to earn a point, but Red Deer (35-11-1-3) took the extra with a 5-4 shootout victory at the VMC on Tuesday.

Down 4-2 with four minutes to play, the Winterhawks rode goals from Josh Zakreski and Kyle Chyzowski to tie things up and force an extra frame. Zakreski struck on a rebound at 16:08 after Diego Buttazzoni won a key faceoff, followed three minutes later by Chyzowski jamming in a loose puck through a bevy of bodies to complete the comeback.

Early in the contest, Portland had a plethora of power plays but coughed up the game's opening goal on a shorthanded breakaway to Jace Isley at 10:29. The Hawks responded just over a minute later during the same power play as James Stefan finished off some tic-tac-toe passing with Jack O'Brien and Luca Cagnoni to tie things up. The hosts then took a 2-1 lead into the break after Cagnoni potted his 13th of the year, an old-school, full wind-up slapshot off the rush into the top corner at 14:10.

A tense second stanza stayed scoreless for just over half of the period before Red Deer landed a quick one-two punch in a span of 1:35. Ben King struck first on the power play to tie the game, followed shortly after by Craig Armstrong's seventh of the season to put the Rebels ahead going into the third period. Red Deer then made it 4-2 on King's second of the night midway through the third for its largest lead of the night before Portland's late-game tallies.

The Winterhawks are back in action on the road against Tri-City this Friday before returning home for Black Hockey History Night against Seattle on Saturday.

QUOTE OF THE NIGHT presented by BBF TECHNOLOGIES:

"We always want two points but I thought tonight was good for our team...We battle as a team, we're all brothers in this room just fighting for each other every day, sticking up for each other when things get tough, which is important. I think we've created a bond here that's pretty inseparable, and that'll help us in the playoffs. ‚¬Â

Winterhawks forward Josh Zakreski

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Western Hockey League Stories from February 8, 2023


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