
Hawks Hit 40 Wins with 3-1 Victory Over Seattle
March 25, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Portland Winterhawks News Release
Kent, Wash. - Josh Zakreski posted two points and Jan Špunar turned aside 29 of 30 shots as the Winterhawks (40-20-5-3) knocked off the top-seeded Seattle Thunderbirds (54-11-1-2) by a 3-1 final to wrap up the regular season.
The victory helps Portland reach its sixth-straight 40-win season.
Seattle picked up where it left off last night with a quick strike from Dylan Guenther, but the Winterhawks held strong and punched back with two tallies of their own in the second period. Luke Schelter tied things up at 9:22 of the middle frame with a wrister off the rush from the left circle, set up by Zakreski. Then, Zakreski nabbed his own to put Portland ahead for the first time at 12:53 as he tapped home his own rebound on the power play after a slick cross-ice feed from Marcus Nguyen.
Špunar put on a fine display in the final frame with 11 saves to preserve his team's lead, and Ryan McCleary iced Portland's victory with a late empty-netter after a push from the T-Birds.
The Winterhawks now look ahead to the WHL Playoffs, which open in Portland on Friday, March 31 against the Everett Silvertips at 7:00 P.M.
Western Hockey League Stories from March 25, 2023
- Warriors Drop Regular Season Finale Against Saskatoon - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Giants Come Back But Fall Short in Kelowna, 5-4 - Vancouver Giants
- Chiefs Recognize Overage Players, Hand out Team Awards in Pre-Game Ceremony Saturday - Spokane Chiefs
- Berezowski Sets Single-Season Goals Record, Tips Win 4-3 Shootout - Everett Silvertips
- Pats Lose Regular Season Finale 5-3 to Raiders - Regina Pats
- Pats Lose Regular Season Finale 5-3 to Raiders - Regina Pats
- Tigers Punch Their Ticket to the WHL Playoffs - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Blades Finish 2022-23 Season with Third-Best Winning Percentage in Franchise History - Saskatoon Blades
- Hawks Hit 40 Wins with 3-1 Victory Over Seattle - Portland Winterhawks
- ICE Host Medicine Hat Tigers to Open WHL Playoffs - Winnipeg Ice
- Raiders End Regular Season with 5-3 Win in Regina - Prince Albert Raiders
- ICE Get Past Brandon, 5-3 - Winnipeg Ice
- ICE Win 15th Straight Over Wheat Kings to Close Season - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Saturday's Season Finale vs Tri-City Officially Sold Out - Spokane Chiefs
- Hitmen Secure Playoff Spot with Win over Oil Kings - Calgary Hitmen
- Oil Kings Edged by Hitmen - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Rebels and Hitmen to Meet in WHL Playoffs - Red Deer Rebels
- Oil Kings Announce 2022-23 Team Awards Winners - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Americans Head to Spokane for Last Regular Season Home Game - Tri-City Americans
- Single Game Playoff Tickets Are on Sale Now - Saskatoon Blades
- Blazers Sign 2004-Born Defenseman Ryan Nolan - Kamloops Blazers
- Preview: Chiefs Host Americans in 2022-23 Regular Season Finale Saturday Night - Spokane Chiefs
- Blazers Sign 2006-Born Forward Max Sullivan to WHL Scholarship & Development Agreement - Kamloops Blazers
- Game Day Preview March 25 vs Swift Current - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Final Regular Season Contest Goes Inside the Brandt Centre - Regina Pats
- T-Birds Topple Portland - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Game Day Hub: March 25 at Seattle - Portland Winterhawks
- Game #68 - ICE vs Brandon Wheat Kings, 6:00 at the ICE Cave Inside Wayne Fleming Arena - Winnipeg Ice
- Blades Best Pats 3-2 in Front of 14,786 Fans - Saskatoon Blades
- Second-Period Stumble Fells Hawks - Portland Winterhawks
- ICE Triumph in Shootout - Winnipeg Ice
- 7 Different Goal Scorers Lift Cougars Over Blazers - Prince George Cougars
- Berezowski Nets Hat Trick in Home Regular Season Finale, Royals Win 6-4 - Everett Silvertips
- Second-Period Stumble Fells Hawks - Portland Winterhawks
- Rockets Fall to Giants - Kelowna Rockets
- Sloppy Third Period Chiefs' Downfall in 7-4 Loss at Tri-City - Spokane Chiefs
- Tigers Drop 3-1 Decision to Broncos - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Patton Propels Royals to 6-4 Road Win Over Silvertips - Victoria Royals
- Honzek's Last Second Heroics Lift Giants to 3-2 Win - Vancouver Giants
- Uchacz Scores 50th Goal - Red Deer Rebels
- Broncos Down Tigers 3-1 in Regular Season Home Finale - Swift Current Broncos
- Warriors Knock off Raiders in Prince Albert on Friday - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Pats Fall 3-2 to Blades in Playoff Preview - Regina Pats
- Hurricanes to Face Warriors in First Round - Lethbridge Hurricanes
- GAME HUB: Wheat Kings Close out Season in Winnipeg - Brandon Wheat Kings
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